The country’s military leadership emphasized the need to bring the planners, perpetrators, abettors, and facilitators of the May 9 riots to justice for the collective good of the nation.
During the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) presided over by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, the Pakistan Army underscored that without swift and transparent dispensation of justice to the culprits, stability in the country would remain vulnerable to the machinations of such elements. This was stated in a release by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
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The statement issued by the ISPR following the conference highlighted the military’s determination to address the aftermath of the violent riots that occurred a year earlier on May 9, 2023. These riots ensued after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, during which party workers protested across the country, causing damage to public and private property.
The military leadership condemned politically motivated digital terrorism aimed at inducing despondency in the Pakistani nation and sowing discord among national institutions. They reaffirmed the nation’s awareness of such motives and expressed confidence in defeating these nefarious forces.
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Additionally, the forum discussed the geo-strategic environment, emerging national security challenges, and the Army’s strategy to counter multi-domain threats. It also emphasized the importance of technological innovations for modernizing the Army and optimizing logistic support to field formations.
The forum expressed concerns over cross-border violations from Afghanistan and terrorism orchestrated from Afghan soil. It acknowledged the sacrifices of people in newly merged districts (NMDs) in the fight against terrorism and emphasized the need for socio-economic development in Balochistan to counter external narratives of exclusion.
The military leadership pledged support for government initiatives in various domains for sustainable economic growth and curbing illegal activities. They commended formations for their high morale and operational readiness.
Regarding international affairs, the forum expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people in their struggle for self-determination, voiced concerns over the treatment of minorities, especially Muslims, in India, and condemned human rights violations in Palestine.
The conference concluded with a reaffirmation of the resolve to neutralize threats to the country’s security and stability, with tribute paid to martyrs who sacrificed for the nation’s safety, security, and sovereignty.