by Press Trust of IndiaTop Pakistani military officials have vowed to bring to justice “saboteurs” involved in recent attacks on military installations, including the attack on its General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, through a trial.
The arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan by Rangers at the Islamabad High Court complex last Tuesday sparked unrest in Pakistan that continued until Friday with several deaths and the destruction of dozens of military and government installations by protesters.
For the first time in the history of the country, Khan’s supporters stormed the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and Historic Corps Commander’s House set on fire in Lahore in retaliation for his dramatic arrest.
The move by the Pakistan Army to invoke the draconian Army Act and Official Secrets Act is a serious provision in which Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters could be slapped with charges that could lead to either the death penalty or Can lead to life imprisonment. ,
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According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a special Corps Commanders’ Conference chaired by Army Chief General Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi also resolved that restraint will now be exercised against criminals who attack military installations. Will not be treated. ) – the media wing of the Pakistan Army on Monday.
The participants of the Special Corps Commanders’ Conference condemned the politically motivated and inciting incidents against military installations and public and private properties, the statement said.
The statement said, “Based on the irrefutable evidence collected so far, the armed forces are well aware of the planners, instigators, instigators and perpetrators of these attacks and efforts to create distortions in this regard are absolutely futile.” “
The Forum expressed its determination that those involved in these heinous crimes against military installations and personal/equipment would be brought to justice through prosecution under the relevant laws of Pakistan including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act.
It was decided in the meeting that “under no circumstances will restraint be exercised against criminals, vandals and violators who attack military establishments and systems.”
The meeting emphasized the need for a national consensus among all stakeholders to address the ongoing political instability as a priority for restoring public confidence, reviving economic activity and strengthening the democratic process.
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The military commanders also pledged to support all such efforts to reach this much-needed consensus.
Meanwhile, in response to the Pakistan Army’s statement, the PTI tweeted that “As a responsible and largest political body in the Union of Pakistan, PTI has an unwavering commitment to the Constitution and democracy.”
The opposition party said it believed that “the Constitution is the beacon for all of us at the individual and collective level and that solutions to the most complex problems lie within the bounds of the Constitution and the laws.”
The peaceful protest, following the illegal abduction of Chairman PTI by the paramilitary forces of Rangers inside the premises of the Islamabad High Court on 9 May, was a natural and predictable response to the fundamental right of the public to peaceful protest, guaranteed by the Constitution. said the central media department of Khan’s party.
The statement also claimed that “overwhelming evidence is available to establish that armed rioters entered peaceful gatherings, opened fire and opened fire on peaceful protesters, killing dozens.” And hundreds were injured.”
The statement also underlined that it is important that decision-making power be immediately returned to the people of Pakistan through “free, fair and credible elections” so that the nation’s future is based on harmony rather than perpetual confrontation. . ,