The military authorities in Islamabad have hinted at potential legal action against former Prime Minister Imran Khan under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act following the ransacking of military installations after his arrest on May 9. In a shocking display of vandalism, supporters of Khan’s party, the PTI, attacked the historic Corps’ Commander’s House, previously known as Jinnah House and once the residence of Pakistan’s founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, shortly after Khan’s detention by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. Disturbing images and videos from the scene revealed extensive damage caused by the protesters, with rooms, halls, drawing rooms, walls, curtains, doors, wooden ceilings, and even the floor burnt. Furthermore, the nearby 130-year-old building of the Military Engineering Services also fell victim to arson, resulting in the destruction of valuable records, furniture, and vehicles.
Addressing the situation arising from the violent protests by the PTI against Khan’s arrest, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir chaired a Special Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) meeting at GHQ in Rawalpindi. The gathering preceded the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting scheduled for Tuesday, during which the final decision regarding the course of action against the former prime minister and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in inciting supporters to ransack the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence, attack the GHQ, and target other military installations would be made.
In an unprecedented move, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a detailed statement, indicating that the military forum had extensively assessed the recent law and order situation, which appeared to be orchestrated to serve vested political interests. The ISPR informed that the coordinated arson plan, including desecration of martyrs’ pictures and monuments, destruction of historical buildings, and vandalism of military installations, was executed to malign the institution and provoke impulsive reactions.
The forum vehemently condemned these politically motivated and instigated incidents against military installations, as well as public and private properties, emphasizing the anguish and sentiments expressed by the rank and file of the army. With concrete evidence at their disposal, the armed forces were said to be well aware of the planners, instigators, abettors, and perpetrators involved in these attacks. Any attempts to distort the truth were deemed futile, as the military vowed to ensure justice through trials under relevant Pakistani laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act. The forum declared that restraint would no longer be exercised against individuals who attacked military installations and setups, emphasizing a strong stance against perpetrators and violators under all circumstances.
Expressing concern over externally sponsored and internally facilitated propaganda warfare aimed at creating divisions between the armed forces and the people of Pakistan, as well as within the ranks, the forum reiterated that such hostile propaganda would be defeated with the support of the Pakistani people, who have consistently stood by the armed forces. The forum highlighted the necessity of strict enforcement of social media rules and regulations to hold violators accountable and stressed the importance of national consensus among all stakeholders to address the ongoing political instability. The aim was to restore public confidence, revive economic activity, and strengthen the democratic process. The forum pledged its support for all efforts towards reaching this much-needed consensus, reaffirming that the Pakistan Army, with the unwavering support of the people, would triumph over any nefarious designs of the nation’s enemies.