RAWALPINDI – General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s chief of the army staff (COAS), on Saturday warned against “any further attempt” to violate the sanctity and security of the military installations and “resolved to bring to justice all the planners, abetters, instigators and executors of vandalism” on May 9.
Violent protests broke out across Pakistan after around 100 personnel of the paramilitary force Rangers forced their entry into the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and arrested former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan. Khan had arrived at the IHC to plead his case for bail in various cases registered against him by the incumbent coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media affairs wing of the Pakistan Army, the COAS issued the warning during his visit to the Peshawar Corps Headquarters on Saturday. During his visit, he addressed the officers of the Corps and spoke about the evolving threats to the national security.
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The ISPR quoted Gen Asim as saying, “We shall continue with our endeavors of peace and stability and there will be no room for spoilers of the process. The Armed Forces will not tolerate any further attempt of violating the sanctity and security of its installations or vandalism and resolved to bring to justice all the planners, abetters, instigators and executors of vandalism on the Black Day of 9th May.”
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The army chief also highlighted the challenges of information warfare and the attempts to spread disinformation. He said that a concerted effort was being made by inimical elements to target the Armed Forces. He said that such “nefarious attempts” would be foiled with the support of people of Pakistan.