Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry has stated that military’s stance on May 9 violent protests remains unchanged that those involved in the riots must be brought to book.
“Army’s stance on [May 9] is clear, which was conveyed in the May 7 press conference. There has been no change in that nor there will be,” he said while briefing the media on the country's security situation at Rawalpindi's General Headquarters (GHQ).
Briefing on the anti-terror efforts, the military’s spokesperson revealed that so far, 23,622 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) have been conducted in the ongoing year — of which 2,045 operations were conducted in the last 15 days which resulted in the elimination of 24 terrorists.
He also said that over 100 IBOs are conducted by the army and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) on a daily basis.
Recalling last week's government's notification which declared the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as "Fitna al-Khawarij," Lt Gen Chaudhry said that the militant organisation had nothing to do with Islam.
"The armed forces are especially focused on the merged districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," DG ISPR said, adding that the war against terrorism will continue till the last militant is eliminated.
Contribution to education, other sectors
Continuing on the military's contribution to the education sector, the army spokesperson termed it as a fundamental element of a country's development.
"Digital education is also being provided to the youth," he said, emphasising that the Balochistan students are the country's future and a scholarship program has been started for them.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said they are also bearing other expenses of the Balochistan students apart from their studies.
"About 92 schools are being run in Balochistan for better education and 19,000 are getting education from there," he added. Moreover, the army has also established 171 schools and three cadet colleges in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
"Pakistan Army set up medical camps in various districts where free treatment was provided," he said, adding that local and foreign companies are working on many projects in the merged districts.
The DG ISPR said that education, health and provision of clean water in Balochistan are the top priority of the Pakistan Army.
He highlighted that with the help of army, important projects of roads and bridges in Balochistan were completed. Moreover, he said, a project focused on processing dates was planned in Panjgur with the UAE’s support.
Army reiterates support for Kashmiris
On the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir — marking the revocation of Article 370 and 35-A of the Indian Constitution to change the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir's (IIOJK) political and constitutional status five years ago — Lt Gen Chaudhry said that the Pakistan Army stands with the people of the IIOJK.
"We are aware of the inhuman lockdown, illegal ways to change the region's demographics and human rights violations that are a defiance of international law and are a danger to the region."
To bring peace to the region, it is inevitable to resolve the Kashmir issue as per the UN resolutions and in line with the hopes of the Kashmiri people, he said.
On this day, he said, the Pakistan Army pays tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs of the IIOJK and also stands with the efforts of the Kashmiri people against injustice.
More to follow...
