Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif held a press conference on Monday to address the ongoing unrest and propaganda nationwide against Operation Azm-e-Istehkam and armed forces. The DG stressed the presence of a gigantic illegal political mafia in the country that is trying to vandalize Pakistan’s move to resolve for stability.
For the first time, the DG used and introduced the word “Digital Terrorism” creating negative discourse against the military and country globally. He illuminated the army’s verdict on some salient issues based on false and fabricated news in the thick of organized propaganda against the military establishment. The Army spokesperson has an acidulous criticism towards the political mafia that is attempting to damage Operation Azm-e-Istehkam for their benefit deliberately.
He said that so far in the year 2024, a total of 22,409 intelligence-based operations (IBO) have been orchestrated against the terrorists and their facilitators during which, 398 assassinated amongst them were 31 high-profile aims. In the course of these operations, 137 security personnel embraced martyrdom. However, he added that such consequential issues are politicized in the country.
DG ISPR denominated criticism and obstructive narratives against the armed forces on social media as digital terrorism. He added that as the militants obtrude their liking via a weapon, in the same manner, these digital terrorists use their gadgets to disseminate fake news and propaganda to create violence and havoc. Moreover, he showed disappointment towards the courts, adding that instead of taking action against them and passing out some regulations, they are given more space and are portrayed as heroes in the surge of Article 19. This resulted in escalating false information and propaganda against state leadership and institutions.
Furthermore, the ISPR Chief holds a massive illegal political mafia responsible for attempting to sabotage Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, the sole purpose of this operation is to lodge a comprehensive campaign to counter-terrorism, and not a military operation like the previous ones. He said, “There will be no extensive operations in which displacement will be required.” Apart from this, he asserted that there are no more no-go areas in the country. This operation aims to stimulate already happening IBOs and eliminate the vicious roots of terrorism in the country so that the country thrives towards economic development and stability.
In addition to this, the DG ISPR emphasized that a strong lobby is working against this move to make it controversial and the revamped National Action Plan. Furthermore, related to the NAP points he articulated that the agreements in this have been made in 2014 with unanimity of all the political parties. Also, there are 32,000 madaris functionals in the country; only 16,000 are registered.
Lt. Gen. Sharif vilified notorious Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) narratives and actions, emphasizing that they will be tackled adequately to counter the sudden rise in terrorist attacks throughout the country, specifically in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. With this, the DG delineated the unfortunate incident during the peace rally in Bannu, where the equipped protestors ambushed the cantonment, followed by a video of the attack of the armed protestors. Also, the DG said that maintenance of law and order and controlling rampage is the obligation of the provincial government and not the military. Besides this, he also said that it is the right of the nation to carry out protests and express their anger when their peace is threatened and disturbed.
Concluding this, he asserted about the May 9 riots and stressed that the attacks on institutions and public property are not hidden from the people; the public has witnessed everything. If such terror groups and individuals are not held responsible, then incidents of extremism and intolerance keep occurring, and the threat of radicalism will strengthen.
It is alarming that the leverage given to the masterminds could lead to an upsurge in autocratic and repressive practices.
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