Islamabad, May 16 (FN Bureau) The Pakistan army’s top brass on Monday vowed to bring to justice “spoilers” involved in last week’s attacks on military installations through “trials under relevant laws of Pakistan including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act”. According to a statement issued from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir presided over the Special Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi today, Dawn reported. It stated that the military brass was briefed in detail about the prevailing internal and external security environment. “The forum took comprehensive stock of the law and order situation in the past few days that was created to achieve vested political interests.” The ISPR said that the forum was briefed about a “well-coordinated arson plan involving the desecration of Shuhada pictures, and monuments, burning down of historical buildings and vandalism of military installations was executed to malign the institution and provoke it towards giving an impulsive reaction”. The statement highlighted that the forum strongly condemned the “politically motivated and instigated incidents against military installations and public/private properties”.
“The commanders also communicated the anguish and sentiments of the rank and file of the army on these unfortunate and unacceptable incidents. “Based on the irrefutable evidence collected so far, the armed forces are well aware of the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of these attacks and attempts to create distortions in this regard are absolutely futile,” the ISPR said. “The forum expressed the resolve that those involved in the heinous crimes against military installations will be brought to justice through trials under relevant laws of Pakistan including the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act.” The huddle also resolved that “restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators, spoilers and violators who attack military installations and setups under any circumstances”. The ISPR statement comes days after the chaos that ensued after PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest from the premises of the Islamabad High Court on May 9. The former prime minister was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau with the help of the paramilitary Rangers — a development that sparked countrywide protests amid incidents of vandalism and violence. While the protests were underway, social media was flooded with footage of a mob clashing with police in Karachi, attacking and entering the army’s head office, General Headquarters, in Rawalpindi and vandalising the official residence of a high-ranking military officer in Lahore. The military referred to the day of the violence as a “black chapter”.