Tag: army

  • ‘We will fight internal and external challenges,’; General Asim Munir’s message on Independence Day

    The Azadi Parade was held on Sunday at Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul, with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, serving as the chief guest.

    The cadets presented a spectacular display of drill parade, while a special tribute was paid to the martyrs who laid their lives for the motherland.

    The army chief commended Commandant Ifthikhar Hassan Chaudhry for an inspiring parade on August 14.

    Reminding his audience that Pakistan was created as a result of the tremendous vision of its forebears and their sacrifices, General Munir then raised the slogan, “Pakistan ka matlab kya, La ilaha illallah.” [What is the meaning of Pakistan? There is no God but Allah.]

    He also mentioned that Pakistan is the land of opportunities, and the nation should struggle hard for the progress of the country.

    “We will continue to rise in line with the aspirations of our forefathers and the people of Pakistan, for the bright future of coming generations,” Gen. Asim Munir vowed.

    “We will fight our internal and external challenges,” he added.

    The COAS said that the Pakistan Army will never think twice about making a sacrifice to protect the nation’s territorial integrity, all-encompassing security, and national development initiatives.

  • Javed Latif demands punishment for those who launched ‘Chairman PTI’

    Federal Minister and senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Javed Latif, has demanded punishment for the individuals who launched project “PTI Chairman”, Express Urdu has reported.

    While talking to media personnel in Lahore, Javed Latif said that an institution initiating self-accountability sends a positive message, and other institutions should also follow the line.

    He further added that if the individuals who have launched this project [PTI] are not arrested and punished, a similar incident like May 9 could happen again.

    If the serving members can face a court-martial, then the retired officers should also held accountable, he opined.

    Latif further said that both the facilitators and masterminds of May 9 events, no matter how powerful they may be, should face punishment.

  • Use of Army Act against civilians: US urges Pakistan to respect democratic principles

    United States (US) State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Tuesday urged Pakistani authorities to respect democratic principles and rule of law.

    “We are aware of the reports concerning civilians who will face military trials for their suspected involvement in the May 9th protest,” Miller told reporters

    He added that the authorities were in regular contact with Pakistan’s officials at the highest level for human rights, democracy, projection of journalists and rule of law, for these were priorities for the United States.

    While answering a question about Pakistan buying crude oil from Russia, Miller said that we have been very clear that each country has to make its own choices based on its own circumstances.

    The National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding action against May 9 rioters under the Army Act.
    The resolution was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

    The resolution demanded that all individuals involved in May 9 riots must immediately face legal repercussions, adding that members of the same party and its leaders were separating themselves from May 9 events.

  • May 9 riots: Pakistan to ask relevant foreign governments to hand over culprits

    Foreign nationals involved in “instigation, glorification and support (physical, moral and financial)” of the incidents of May 9 will be investigated, the government has decided on Thursday, Geo news has reported.

    As per Geo’s sources, the government has collected relevant data of more than 500 Pakistanis. “Their call records, social media activity, travel history, financial transactions, immigration status and other relevant data has been analysed.”

    Reportedly, the expats are mostly from the UK, Europe and the US.

    The people involved will be investigated upon arriving in Pakistan. “Moreover, the government shall initiate criminal proceedings against all those involved, and the relevant foreign governments will be contacted for handing over the culprits.”

    Their legal status in host countries, mode of entry and pending dual nationality applications shall also be made part of the proceedings.

  • How can cases of civilians be tried under the Official Secrets Act: Peshawar High Court raises questions

    How can cases of civilians be tried under the Official Secrets Act: Peshawar High Court raises questions

    A division bench of Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday heard petitions filed against trials in military courts of those accused of attacking military installations.

    The bench consisted of Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah.

    “How can cases of civilians be tried under the Official Secrets Act,” Justice Ibrahim questioned during the hearing, adsing that the cases require interpretation of the constitution.

    The hearing has been adjourned till June 13.

    On Wednesday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir presided over the 81st Formation Commanders Conference at GHQ, which was attended by Corps Commanders, Principal Staff Officers and all Formation Commanders of Pakistan Army.

    The forum condemned the events of May 9, saying that “attackers of military installations would certainly be brought to justice speedily under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act which are the derivatives of the Constitution of Pakistan.”

  • ‘This army is mine’: Khan stresses that he has no fight with military

    ‘This army is mine’: Khan stresses that he has no fight with military

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has again stressed that he has no fight with the military.

    Talking with journalists in Zaman Park, Khan said: “There is no fight with the army, this army is mine.”

    Earlier, Khan said that he is ready to talk to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, however, he was of the view that the army chief treats him like his enemy.

    Commenting on the mass departure of leaders from his party, Khan said, “I will give a big surprise in the coming days.”

    Khan said some party leaders are leaving the party under compulsion while some have been exposed.

    He also claimed that PTI will win the next general elections despite the desertions of party leaders.

    In case of Imran’s disqualification, the PTI chief said, Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi would lead the party.

  • Faisal Vawda admits that Imran did remove Asim Munir as DG ISI in 2019 for exposing Bushra Bibi’s corruption

    Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prominent leader Faisal Vawda has claimed that Imran Khan as Prime Minister (PM) removed incumbent army chief Asim Munir in 2019 from the post of Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) when he told Imran about Bushra Bibi’s corruption.

    In Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, he said that he warned Asim Munir not to do so, but the General took the evidence of corruption to Imran Khan.

    When he was asked to stop by Vawda, Gen Munir responded by asking, “Do you want me to be dishonest to my country?”

    He then said that when Gen Munir presented evidence against Bushra Bibi and her friend Farah Gogi, Khan flew into a rage, accusing him of trying to “meddle in the affairs of his family”.

    “On the same day around 11pm, Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid took charge as DG ISI. This shows how much of a hurry Imran Khan was in,” Vawda said.

    During the show, Vawda also revealed that during his prime ministership, Khan approached Gen Munir once to ask him to “manage the Senate”.

    However, he said, Gen Munir rejected the task saying that the army can not interfere.

    Prior to this, Imran categorically termed “completely false” the rumours regarding him removing Gen Munir from the post of DG ISI in 2019 because the then-spymaster wanted to investigate corruption cases involving Bushra Bibi.

  • Imran removed Asim Munir from DG ISI post in 2019 when Bushra Bibi’s corruption got exposed, PM Shehbaz

    Imran removed Asim Munir from DG ISI post in 2019 when Bushra Bibi’s corruption got exposed, PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing National Assembly (NA) on Monday, said that the then-PM Imran Khan transferred incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir from the post of Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in 2019 because he had told Imran that his wife Bushra Bibi was involved in corruption.

    “I say this with full responsibility that incumbent army chief Gen Asim Munir when he was DG ISI, told PM Imran, that his wife was involved in corruption”, Sharif said.

    “But obviously Imran got furious about it and did not like it. And the rest is history,” the premier added.

    “Today I would like to say that Imran Khan has betrayed the nation by sprouting a lie. This is the reason why the former DG ISI was transferred … it was because he confronted the then-PM that his family members were involved in corruption.”

    On May 21, Khan categorically termed “completely false” the rumours regarding him removing COAS Munir from the post of DG ISI in 2019 because the then-spymaster wanted to investigate corruption cases involving Bushra Bibi.

    The PTI chief’s denial on Twitter comes after a Telegraph report stated: “It was as ISI chief that he is reported to have first clashed with Mr Khan, who was then prime minister. Gen Munir is reported to have informed Mr Khan he wanted to investigate allegations of corruption around his wife and her circle. Then, in June 2019, he was removed from his post only eight months into what was meant to be a three-year term.”

    In a tweet, Imran said: “This is completely false. Neither did Gen Asim show me any proof of my wife’s corruption nor did I make him resign because of that.”

    In his speech in NA today, Shehbaz claimed that he was not aware of the arrest warrants issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for Khan.

    He also clarified that the rioters of the May 9 events will be tried under existing laws, asserting that “no new laws are being introduced”.

  • Is everyone naraaz with Imran? Another PTI member leaves party

    In a major setback to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party’s former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Aamir Kayani has announced that he is quitting the party after the attacks of May 9 on the security forces as he has to “rethink” his politics.

    Addressing a presser in Islamabad, he expressed regret over the May 9 violent protests by PTI leaders, workers and supporters.

    “I made my decision two months ago, but will formally announce it today,” he said.

    “My entire family, including my grandfather and everyone, we belong to an army family,” the MNA said.

    “Our domain is politics, and we should stay in it,” he added.

    Kiani has not only decided to quit PTI but also announced to end his political career. He emphasised that he will not join any political party.

    On Tuesday, the party faced another major blow when Karachi’s Mahmood Baqi Moulvi quit the party.

    In a statement, Moulvi had said he was leaving the party due to “differences with the leadership”.

  • ‘Individual act of workers’: Waleed Iqbal says protesters should be dealt with Army Act

    ‘Individual act of workers’: Waleed Iqbal says protesters should be dealt with Army Act

    Senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Waleed Iqbal, who is also the grandson of 20th-century poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal, has said that he saw PTI workers inside Lahore’s Jinnah House at the time of the attack on the building on May 09. He however, said that these were iindividual acts of party workers and they should be charged according to the Army Act or any other applicable law.

    He made the comments on Waseem Badami’s programme on ARY on Tuesday evening.

    He continued by saying that the party had not made announcement in this regard nor had a policy of violence.

    A Special Corps Commander Conference held on Monday at the General Headquarters (GHQ), presided by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, decided that the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of the attacks on military installations and buildings during the protests led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters will be tried under relevant Pakistani laws, including the Army Act and Official Secret Act.