Tag: army

  • Two American Air Force members to quit as US continues to back Israel

    Two American Air Force members to quit as US continues to back Israel

    Two officers currently serving in the United States Air Force are seeking to quit their military roles and declare themselves conscientious objectors in the light of their opposition to Washington’s backing of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

    The two people in question are Larry Hebert and Juan Bettancourt who are critical of the US-backed genocide in Gaza that has killed over 37,400 Palestinians, predominantly women and children.

    They have formally requested to be recognized as conscientious objectors as per established military procedures — a status granted to individuals who object to engaging in military activities on moral or ethical grounds.

    Al Jazeera spoke to Hebert who is presently serving as a senior airman in the US Air Force. He pointed out that conscientious objection in the US military has historically been seen during protests against the Vietnam and Iraq wars.

    He intends to raise awareness that active-duty soldiers have the option to choose conscientious objection.

    In an earlier interview with NBC News, Hebert revealed the death of six-year-old Hind Rajab in February was a pivotal moment influencing his decision.

  • Army eliminates 11 terrorists involved in Lakki Marwat attack

    Army eliminates 11 terrorists involved in Lakki Marwat attack

    At least 11 terrorists involved in the martyrdom of seven army officials in Lakki Marwat on Sunday, have been killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the same district on June 12.

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a statement that the IBO was carried out in response to the recent Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion that claimed the lives of seven brave soldiers to bring the perpetrators of the heinous act to justice.

    The military’s media wing stated, “During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, as a result of which eleven terrorists were successfully neutralised while multiple terrorist hideouts were also busted.”

    In recent years, Pakistan has seen a deterioration in the security situation in the country as the Taliban interim government came into power in 2022 in Afghanistan.

  • Seven security officials martyred in Lakki Marwat

    Seven security officials martyred in Lakki Marwat

    Seven army officials including a captain embraced martyrdom after an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted their vehicle in Shahab Khel area of district Lakki Marwat on Sunday.

    A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) read, “An improvised explosive device exploded on the vehicle of security forces in Lakki Marwat District.”

    Officials said the vehicle was on its way to the Kaichi Kamar area when it came under attack near Sultankhel village, an area bordering Punjab’s Mianwali district.

    ISPR’s statement revealed that 26-year-old Captain Muhammad Faraz Ilyas, a resident of Kasur, along with 50-year-old Subedar Major Muhammad Nazir from Skardu, 34-year-old Lance Naik Muhammad Anwar from Ghanchi, 36-year-old Lance Naik Hussain Ali from Ghizer, 33-year-old Sepoy Asadullah from Multan, 27-year-old Sepoy Manzoor Hussain from Gilgit, and 31-year-old Sepoy Rashid Mehmood from district Rawalpindi embraced martyrdom.

    Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur strongly condemned the cowardly attack on security officials.

  • Crackdown begins on anti-state content on social media

    Crackdown begins on anti-state content on social media

    A crackdown has been launched against people sharing anti-state content on social media. So far, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two suspects from Rawalpindi.

    The FIA inquiry is aimed at people involved in propaganda against Pakistan’s military institutions and important personalities.

    FIA teams conducted raids at various locations in Rawalpindi and arrested two suspects, stating that the accused were involved in spreading fabricated and fake news against the armed forces.

    Among the arrested suspects are Yasir Arafat and Irfan Abbas who were taken into custody from Rawat and Gujar Khan areas.

  • PTI distances itself from Khan’s 1971 breakup of Pakistan post

    PTI distances itself from Khan’s 1971 breakup of Pakistan post

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan distanced the party from former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s controversial social media post on the 1971 civil war and the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report, saying the post should be seen in a “political context”.

    “The context and comparison that we drew with 1971 was in a political context and not otherwise — nothing about the army,” said Barrister Gohar in an interview with digital news outlet Azaad Urdu.

    On May 26, Imran Khan’s account on X shared a video about the separation of East Pakistan along with a quote attributed to him: “Every Pakistani should study the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor, General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

    PTI Chairman said Khan was in prison and “does not approve every video or context”.

    In the video, it was argued that the people’s mandate was not respected and the former military dictator was the one responsible for the country’s breakup.

    The footage also showed the atrocities committed by the Pakistani military during the civil war when it conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971.

    The post garnered backlash from fellow political leaders. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman had said the post was “alarming” and the PTI was “continuously fueling the narrative of hatred and incitement” by comparing Imran to Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.

    Netizens also discovered an old tweet in which Imran Khan had disparagingly compared Nawaz Sharif to Mujib, a complete contradiction of his latest tweet.

  • ‘Over my dead body’; Malik Riaz says won’t be pressurised

    ‘Over my dead body’; Malik Riaz says won’t be pressurised

    Bahria Town Chairman and real estate tycoon Malik Riaz on Sunday alleged that he was being immensely pressurised for “political motives” but will not bow down before anyone.

    In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Riaz wrote that there has been a “recurring pattern of victimization against me and my business for introducing state-of-the-art projects in Pakistan.”

    It should be noted that Malik Riaz did not name anyone despite complaining he was being pushed to the wall.

    Dawn News reported that it reached out to numerous political experts and politicians but “nearly everyone was reluctant to comment on his ‘sad tale’.”

    It is, however, widely believed that Riaz was referring to the Al Qadir Trust/University case, which was filed by NAB against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.

    The case alleges that PM Imran Khan and his spouse obtained land spread over hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd to legalise Rs50 billion, the same amount which was returned to Pakistan by UK authorities.

    Reacting to the tycoon’s statement, former president and PTI leader Arif Alvi asserted that the pressure cooker will ‘burst one of these days’.

  • ‘I don’t owe apology to anyone’, Khan responds to DG ISPR

    ‘I don’t owe apology to anyone’, Khan responds to DG ISPR

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, who is currently in Adiala jail, turned down the military’s demand to apologise for May 9 riots. He also said that his party had no connection with the violent protests that occurred last year.

    “Why should I tender apology, it should be sought from me,” the imprisoned former prime minister said while talking to journalists in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Wednesday.

    The PTI founder was responding to a question related to Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Tuesday’s press conference, wherein he demanded “those involved in the May 9 violent protests to apologise” and shun politics of “anarchy” before holding any dialogue.

    Earlier last year, when Imran Khan was arrested after the May 9 protests, he told the court that people will react again to my arrest. 

    During a long press conference, the military spokesperson stated that they will not dialogue with those who attacked military installations and disrespected the nation’s martyrs.

  • PTI claims intelligence agencies rigged by-polls, announce protest

    PTI claims intelligence agencies rigged by-polls, announce protest

    After the recently held by-elections on Sunday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders alleged that intelligence agencies were involved in rigging polls.

    The party termed April 21 as a “black day” in the history of Pakistan while urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to withhold the notifications of results.

    Announcing a series of protests starting from Friday, the PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, addressing a press conference, said, “[The] day of election is considered an accountability day, and people cast their votes with great zeal. However, on April 21, open and blatant violations of law were observed. The magnitude of the rigging and violation of law has never been observed in the history of Pakistan. Gates of polling stations were closed, and at some polling stations, more votes were polled than the total registered votes.”

    The PTI Chairman, accompanied by other senior members of the party, stated that in one polling station in Gujrat, only 120 votes were cast but three boxes of ballot papers were seen.

    PTI’s Omar Ayub said that pre-poll rigging began with the suspension of the internet. He also showed a letter from the RO of NA-8 Bajaur to the DRO, claiming that the RO alleged that an intelligence official had beaten the staff.

    “We will start protests, along with other parties, next Friday across the country,” said Ayub.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won a majority of seats in by-polls held on nearly two dozen national and provincial seats on Sunday.

  • Army orders to investigate EX-ISI chief Faiz Hameed, journalist Kamran Yousaf reports

    Army orders to investigate EX-ISI chief Faiz Hameed, journalist Kamran Yousaf reports

    Pakistan army has formed a high-level inquiry committee to investigate alleged accusations to investigate former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hameed for allegedly misusing power while serving as the director-general of ISI, journalist Kamran Yousaf has reported.

    People familiar with the development said that the investigation has been conducted at the directions of the Supreme Court (SC) and the Ministry of Defence.

    Faiz Hameed was appointed as DG-C in ISI and later became the head of the intelligence agency. His name was involved in multiple controversies, including the Faizabad Dharna case. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also accused him of engineering his removal from office in 2017.

    However, the Pakistan Army has decided to investigate the case through a high-level inquiry committee. “A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted under a Major General, which will look at every aspect related to this matter in detail.”

    ‘There is a strict and highly transparent system of self-accountability in the Pakistan Army, and by promoting this system, all such allegations are investigated with great seriousness, and those responsible are also given severe punishment so that the self-accountability of the Pakistan Army is maintained,” Express TRIBUNE reported.

  • Army, Punjab police will investigate Bahawalnagar incident together: ISPR

    Army, Punjab police will investigate Bahawalnagar incident together: ISPR

    Pakistan Army and Punjab Police announced on Friday that they will work together to investigate the incident where masked men in military clothing attacked cops in Bahawalnagar. The decision came after short video clips of the incident went viral on social media.

    The military’s media wing stated that a recent unfortunate incident happened in Bahawalnagar. The military and police authorities worked together to promptly address and resolve the situation.

    “Despite this, certain factions with vested motives started fanning vitriolic propaganda on social media to create divisions between state institutions and government departments,” the statement read.

    “To ensure a fair and deliberate inquiry, and to determine responsibility for violations of laws and misuse of authority, a joint inquiry comprising security and police officials will be conducted for ascertaining the facts and apportioning responsibility,” it concluded.

    Earlier, on Wednesday, the Punjab Police condemned the “fake propaganda” being spread on social media websites after videos emerged showing cops being assaulted by Pakistan Army officers in Bahawalnagar.