Director General Inter Services Public Relations Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry has declared that the nation will neither forget the May 9 tragedy, nor will perpetrators be forgiven.

Addressing a media briefing in Rawalpindi on Monday, he said those involved in this tragedy, irrespective of their affiliation with any institution, political party or group will be brought to justice as per the Constitution and the law.

He said May 9 tragedy will be remembered as a Black Chapter in the history of Pakistan as even the foes of the country could not do in last 70 years what a handful of miscreants did on that day. He said as per investigation concluded so far, it has been revealed that people were incited against the armed forces under some preplanned strategy.

The Director General said armed forces, martyrs’ families and veterans are angered over vandalism and desecration of martyrs’ memorials. He said what an irony it is that on the one hand the armed forces are rendering supreme sacrifices in the war against terrorism, while on the other hand some elements are spreading false propaganda against the security forces. 

He said it is a demand of the martyrs’ families and the entire nation as to when the culprits behind the incidents of May 9 will be brought to justice.

Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said innocent people, especially the youth of the country was misguided and provoked on the false notion of so-called revolution. He said a misleading and negative propaganda was unleashed against the armed forces by some elements for nefarious political designs and in lust for power. He said planners, abettors, and facilitators of the May 9 tragedy will be taken to the task and anyone creating hurdles in this process will be dealt sternly as per law of the land.

Highlighting the process of self-accountability within the armed forces, the DG ISPR said two departmental inquiries, headed by officers of Major General Rank, were initiated to probe the violent incidents on May 9.

He said in light of the recommendations of these court of inquiries, a stern action has been taken against senior military officers, guilty of committing negligence in ensuring security and sanctity of GHQ, different Garrisons, Jinnah House, martyrs’ memorials and other military installations. He said three top level officers of Pakistan Army including a Lieutenant General have been sacked, while a disciplinary action has also been completed against 15 officers including three major generals, and seven brigadiers.

Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said the armed forces believe in across the board accountability without considering affiliation and relations of any individual. He said at present a granddaughter and a son-in-law of retired four-star generals, wife of a three-star retired general as well as the wife and son-in-law of a two-star retried general are going through this accountability process on the basis of irrefutable evidence.

Talking about the trial of perpetrators of May 9 under the Army Act, the Director General said cases of 102 miscreants are being heard in the already standing military cournts. He added that civilian courts have referred the cases of these 102 people to military courts as per law and on the basis of solid evidence. He, however, made it clear that the accused, being tried under the Army Act, enjoy all legal rights, including hiring a civilian lawyer and filing appeal in the high courts and the Supreme Court. He said Army Act is part of the Constitution and the law under which hundreds of cases have been concluded.

Major Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said May 9 tragedy was a major conspiracy against Pakistan, whose plot was being hatched for the past many months.

He said under that plot, a narrative based on lies and exaggeration, was built internally and externally.

The DG ISPR said the anti-state forces tried their best to create rift and spread distrust between Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan, but they remained unsuccessful in their nefarious designs.

He said the Armed Forces rendered matchless sacrifices for the nation in the past and will never hesitate to do so in the future.

Responding to question, Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said May 9 incidents were not a result of spontaneous act as it was planned to target military installations and create wedge between the armed forces and the people of Pakistan.

He said women were used as shield to attack on their own army, but the Armed Forces foiled the conspiracy by not responding to it.

Answering another question, Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said those who built a narrative against the Army and incited people to attack military installations and disgrace monuments of the Shuhada and Ghazis are the mastermind of 9th of May tragedy.

Responding to another question, the Director General said the government is devising a strategy to check negative propaganda against the state institutions on social media.

Replying to a question, Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said all political forces of the country are equally respectable for the armed forces. He urged all the political stakeholders to sit together to create national consensus in order to boost confidence in the nation, bring stability and economic revival in the country.