Tazeen Akhtar
Finally a rare across the board action against military officials by the military itself has clarified the situation within the military high ranks that all was not disciplined there and many officials were using their positions and powers against their oath, their own mother institution and above all against the martyrs of the motherland. DG ISPR tried his best to make everything clear but still many questions remained unanswered. The action can bring reaction from the intelligentsia about especially the intelligence agencies of the military including ISI and MI. The names of the officers involved in supporting the riots or who let the attacks happened have not been disclosed. What does it mean? The officers sacked and held accountable belong to military itself. What does it mean actually?
Moreover the press conference by Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on 26 June 2023 is a clear message to the Supreme Court of Pakistan where 6 member larger bench is hearing the petitions against the civilians trials in the Military Courts.
Chairman PTI Imran Khan is among the petitioners who can be declared the master mind of the 9 May attacks. The DG hinted at the master mind as he said that the false propaganda was on from those who have lust for power. It is already crystal clear that it was none other than Imran Khan who ignited the fire in the hearts and minds of the workers since when he was ousted through a no trust move in the assembly. It seems Imran Khan will soon be arrested as master mind of 9 May.
The hopes of the accused including the close relatives of high ranking military officials and civilians have died after the press conference as military is not going to give any concession to the relatives of even the former Chiefs of Army Staff including the women. When they will be held accountable, how it is possible that any civilian will get any relief. Military Spokesperson has claimed that all have been arrested only after foolproof evidence against them.
Strict disciplinary action against one Lt General, 3 Maj Generals, 7 Brigadiers has been taken by the military leadership. Moreover close relatives including the women of even the former Chiefs of Army Staff are undergoing accountability process by the military. This indicates clearly that military will never compromise on the highly unfortunate incidents of May 09, 2023 and military itself will award sentences to all miscreants whatsoever the position or relation they have.
102 miscreants are being trialed in the military courts. There are 17 military courts in the country that are already working. Civil courts examined the cases of these miscreants with proofs and legal sides as well before referred to military courts. International Court of Justice has validated the legal process undertaken in these military courts where the accused have complete legal rights.
Here we can see these remarks with hearing on petitions by Imran Khan and others going on at Supreme Court of Pakistan where a larger bench was formed to hear the case about ” Civilians cases can be trialed in Military Courts or not?” but it was dissolved when the government raised question on Justice Mansoor as member because he is relative of a petitioner former Chief Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja.
The information has been shared in an important press conference of Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on 26 June 2023. This is the first ever detailed and determined stance surfaced in one and half month of the attacks on 200 installations, offices of military and memorials of the martyrs countrywide.
3 officers, including one lieutenant general (Lahore Corp Commander Lt Gen Salman Ghani most probably), have been dismissed from services for their failure to protect military installations. Disciplinary action has been taken against 15 officers including three major generals and seven brigadiers.
Granddaughter of a retired four-star general (Khadija Shah the Fashion Designer / General Asif Nawaz Janjua Late) and a son-in-law of a retired four-star general have been arrested in connection with the probe into May 9 riots. A wife of a retired three-star general (Lt Gen Jameel Haidar most probably/ Robina Jameel Haidar former MNA of PTI)and a wife and son-in-law of a retired two-star general are undergoing accountability process.
ISPR DG said the planning of the violent incidents was done several months ago. Here the question rises that why the Inter Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence remained unaware of this planning? As the DG said himself that a propaganda campaign was on and as everything was clear that former DGs of ISI , Pasha, Zaheer and Faiz were fully involved in patronizing the PTI, why the necessary measures were not taken timely and why the action was not taken before the accomplishment of the planning?
“A poisonous propaganda is being spread against Pakistan forces. A false propaganda has been carried out for political purposes and lust for power. The nation cannot be separated from the army and there is complete coordination and transparency in army’s decision making.May 9 events will not be forgotten and those involved will not be forgiven. All the people involved will be punished under the Constitution and law.”
DG ISPR
Here it is worth noting that Constitution and Law both do not restrict to share the names of the accused or culprits. Keeping the names secret is helping the culprits. Who is the Lt Gen? Who are other 2 officers dismissed from service? Who are 15 officers against whom accountability process has been completed? And what does it mean “Accountability Process Completed” – They are punished or not? If Punished, what is the nature of the punishment? These questions need answers.
We believe in the statement of DG ISPR that military or military agencies personnel were not involved in 9 May. But the punishments to military officers and letting the rioters to storm into the houses of officers and memorials of martyrs is enough to consider the involvement of the internal people. Yes! the instigation and the planning was found in the ranks of PTI but how one can ignore the influence of Lt Gen Faiz Hameed in the military and intelligence circles?
On Faiz Hameed, the question rises ” Where is he? He is held accountable or not? If yes , why nothing has been shared by the DG ISPR? If not, why not? any solid reason? Or the Lt Gen dismissed from service is Faiz Hameed? If he is Faiz Hameed, what is the fate of Lt Gen Salman Ghani?
DG said, “Military installations on 200 locations across the country were attacked within hours on May 9.Did the army conspire against itself or the army had already deployed their agents? Or did we burn the memorials of our martyrs? Who was running the unknown accounts and propagating for arson at that time.Social media was used against the army and fake videos and audios were circulated as a part of the propaganda.They make them say that the Pakistan Army is committing atrocities in Pakistan and the foreign organizations are asked to stop economic support to Pakistan.”
Here another question is generated that why our intelligence agencies could not report it from even a few locations? Is it not the severe negligence of the intelligence? Or it was covered by the Faiz Network?
Further, it is clear now that military is holding PTI and its Chairman Imran Khan as the main agent of what the DG termed as big conspiracy against the country. So what is the fate of Imran Khan now? He will be trialed in the military court? Yes or No will be visible in next few days.
If PTI and its Chairman conspired against the country, why the ministers and close accomplices of Imran Khan were provided refuge in return to their press conferences against Imran Khan? If Imran Khan is the master mind , why Asad Umar,Fawad Chaudhry, Ghulam Sarwar, Aamir Kiani, Ali Haidar Zaidi, Fayyaz Chohan and others are allowed to go without accountability? DG ISPR could not satisfy with his answer when asked about so called Estehkam e Pakistan party members. He said,” Holding press conference to part ways with Imran Khan is their own personal and individual decision.” Is it as simple?
While calling for stopping social media propaganda, Maj Gen Chaudhry said positive discussion and criticism should be promoted. The same was also emphasized from former DG ISPR the then Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor who later was promoted to Corp Commander Quetta during Imran’s premiership. Certainly promotions and appointments are sole discretion of COAS but it is also a fact that Asif Ghafoor and General Bajwa were the favorite of Imran Khan as one pagers.
He said objective behind the May 9 incidents was to provoke the army to react immediately. The planners wanted the army to react strongly and create chaos in the country. If that is the matter actually, how the officers can be sentenced for not taking action against the mob? How they can be held responsible for failing to save the installations?
Maj Gen Chaudhry said that the defense budget is at the lowest level in the history of the country which is close to 12.5% this year, adding that last year it was 16% according to GDP. He added that the defense budget will increase if the economy grows.
He also said that the suspects have full legal rights and the right to appeal. They also have the right to appeal in the Supreme Court. The Army Act has been the part of the law and Constitution for decades.
It is appreciative to contribute to the economy of the country. Right of appeal against the decision of the military court is also good to note. Defense of the motherland is above all things and it is a joint responsibility of all including political parties, the public and the press. But justice should be for all and the standards should not be different for good politicians and bad politicians. The names of the supporters of the miscreants withing the military as well as ex servicemen should be made public. Otherwise same movie of the same one page will run again and nothing will be changed except the characters only.
