RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif has said that the Pakistan Army’s stance on the violent protests of May 9 remains unchanged and that those involved in the riots must be brought to justice.
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, on Monday the military’s spokesperson provided details of the counter-terrorism operations that the Pakistani security forces conducted during the current year.
He said that the banned TTP was notified as Fitna Al Khawarij by the government of Pakistan. The DG ISPR said, “The security forces and the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) conducted 23,622 small and large-scale intelligence-based operations (IBO) in the country.” He stated, “Out of the total, 2,045 operations were conducted over the last 15 days.”
“It is important to mention that to fight terrorism, the Pakistan Army, intelligence, police, and other law enforcement agencies conduct more than a hundred operations daily,” he said.
He added that during the first seven months of the year 2024, 139 soldiers of the Pakistani security forces embraced martyrdom. “The entire nation pays tribute to the brave martyrs and their families,” he said.
“This shows that the Pakistani security forces, law enforcement agencies, and intelligence agencies were entirely focused on making the country’s internal and border security certain and lasting”.
He further added that Pakistan’s fight against terrorism will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated.
No change in Army’s Stance on May 9 Events
DG ISPR has stated that the Army’s stance on the May 9 violent protests remains unchanged and 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.
Army’s Contribution to Education
Continuing on the army’s contribution to the education sector, the military spokesperson termed it as a fundamental element of a country’s development.
“Digital education is also being provided to the youth,” he said, stressing that the Balochistan students are the country’s future and a scholarship program has been started for them.
Lt Gen Chaudhry went on to say the army is 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.
The DG ISPR said that health, education, and provision of clean water in Balochistan are the top priorities of the Pakistan Army.
Army Reiterates Support for Kashmiris
On the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir the DG ISPR denounced the Indian attempt to illegally change the demography of IIOJK adding that the government and people of Pakistan will continue supporting the Kashmir cause.
“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,” he said.
He strongly believed that it was inevitable to resolve the Kashmir issue as per the UN resolutions and in line with the hopes of the Kashmiri people to bring peace to the region.
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.
