Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), reaffirmed that the military’s stance on the violent protests of May 9 remains unchanged. Speaking at a media briefing at Rawalpindi’s General Headquarters (GHQ), Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasized that those involved in the riots must be held accountable.
“Army’s stance on [May 9] is clear, which was conveyed in the May 7 [2024] press conference. There has been no change in that nor will there be,” he stated.
The May 9 riots erupted in several parts of the country, particularly in garrison towns, following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. Mobs vandalized private and public properties, including military installations. In a press conference marking the first anniversary of the riots, the DG ISPR insisted that the perpetrators and facilitators of the May 9 riots need to be punished as per the Constitution and law to maintain the credibility and faith in the country’s justice system.
Today, Lt Gen Chaudhry reiterated this stance, highlighting the army’s commitment to addressing “digital terrorism” and propaganda aimed at driving a wedge between the armed forces and the public.
“First of all, the first line of defense against digital terrorism is the law. Unfortunately, the falsehood and propaganda are very high on social media, as fake news and doctored images are posted to create confusion in the minds of the people,” he said.
“The law is not taking its course against it, but the armed forces take it very seriously,” he added, stressing that legal action will be taken against those involved in running propaganda against the military, whether they are in Pakistan or abroad.
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Foreign Propaganda
Addressing questions about a US resolution, Lt Gen Chaudhry stated that the army is aware of who is running and facilitating the campaign against Pakistan and the motives behind it.
“We also know who are the state and non-state elements proliferating this campaign,” he said. He further revealed that since January 2024, 127 articles have been written in foreign print media alone, aimed at spreading hopelessness and anarchy in Pakistan and promoting a specific political agenda. The coordinated efforts behind this campaign include political lobbying, meetings, and protests outside embassies.
Lt Gen Chaudhry criticized those behind the propaganda for not raising their voices against the genocide in Gaza and Palestine, or the exploitation of Kashmiris by a one-million-strong Indian army in IIOJK.
“If these elements have so much money, coordination, and access, they should work on creating a narrative of rising Pakistan, its potential, and its status,” he said.
Security Briefing
In his briefing on anti-terror efforts, Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that 23,622 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) have been conducted so far this year, with 2,045 operations carried out in the last 15 days, resulting in the elimination of 24 terrorists.
Lt Gen Chaudhry concluded by asserting that the military, along with other institutions and the public, remains steadfast against those trying to create anarchy in the country with the support of foreign elements. “We are and will stay standing against them,” he declared.
