RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s armed forces, along with the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and services chiefs, Thursday strongly condemned the criminal acts perpetrated during the May 9 riots last year, resolving not to allow its “executors” to get away with their violent acts.
Terming May 9 (Black Day) as one of the darkest days in the country’s national history, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement said that the politically motivated and brainwashed miscreants in an act of rebellion deliberately resorted to violence against state institutions and vandalised sacred symbols of the state and the sites belonging to national heritage.
Violent protests and riots broke out across the country, especially in the garrison town, with charged mobs vandalising private and public properties including military installations following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s arrest on this day last year.
“Failing to undermine national harmony and stability, the planner, facilitators and executors of this conspiracy embarked upon a sinister campaign of hate against the Armed Forces and the state with an intent to twist the narrative to their advantage and shift the blame on the state institutions,” the military’s media wing said.
It added that it is precisely for this reason there can neither be any compromise with the planners, facilitators and executors of the May 9 tragedy nor would they be allowed to hoodwink the law of land.
“Bringing the real culprits of 9th May to justice is paramount to ensure that in future, no one dares to desecrate the memories of our heroes and the symbols of our unity through such an unwarranted conduct in future,” the statement read.
The ISPR said that the acts were a futile attempt to bring about a misplaced and shortsighted revolution in the country.
“By displaying utmost restraint during this deliberate and brazenly orchestrated violence, Pakistan Armed Forces thwarted the insidious conspiracy by the planners, facilitators and executors who wanted to destabilise Pakistan by inciting confrontation between the people and the Armed Forces,” it added.
The military’s media wing added that the country’s armed forces, today,, have renewed their resolve to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan and defeat nefarious designs of the enemies of its, both external and internal.
“Our Shuhada and their families are pride of Pakistan. The Armed Forces of Pakistan pledge to uphold their dignity and respect at all costs. Pakistan Armed Forces hold a very special relationship with the people of Pakistan,” the statement mentioned.
It invited the nation to join hands to strongly denounce the conspiracies to weaken Pakistan and work together for the prosperity and stability of our beloved country. “Pakistan Armed Forces Zinda’bad, Pakistan Painda’bad.”
‘Never seen such vandalism’
Meanwhile, marking a year to the violent riots, President Asif Ali Zardari termed its as a “dark day” in the country’s history which severely tarnished the country’s image.
Lamenting the riots for serving the interests of Pakistan’s enemies, President Zardari said that politically instigated attacks by mobs on military installations were an “attempt to challenge the writ of the state, undermine the rule of law and weaken the institutions”.
“We have never seen such vandalism in responsible democracies, with violent mobs wreaking havoc on state properties for political gains,” President Zardari said while stressing that any attempt to misuse these rights to incite violence would never be tolerated.
Calling for accountability and that those responsible for the incident to be brought to justice, the president underscored the need for a united effort by all political parties to promote “tolerance, democratic values, and political dialogue, and provide a clear direction to the nation”.
Terming the right to protest and constructive criticism as a key part of the Constitution, Zardari said that such rights must be exercised with “utmost responsibility, adhering strictly to the bounds of constitutional and legal provisions”.
