May 9 perpetrators will have to be punished as per Constitution: DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry Tuesday said the planners of the May 9 riots should be punished as per the constitution and the law of the land.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the army’s spokesperson said unavoidable evidence of the May 9 riots is available. The attacks on the army’s installations that took place within hours on May 9 were recorded on the CCTV cameras.

Videos of political leaders directing the rioters on May 9 are also available.

May 9 riots were used to create a rift between the masses and the Pakistan Armed Forces. A group tried to deviate masses under the name of False Flag Operation, he said.

Responding to a question regarding the judicial commission, the DG ISPR said the commission is formed to probe a matter when there is doubt. Everything is crystal clear about the May 9 riots, he added.

Commenting on the prospects of dialogue with any faction, Maj Gen Chaudhry said: “No talks will be held with any political leader, or group which attacks its own army and indulges in propaganda [against them]”.

“There can be no dialogue with an anarchist group,” he noted adding that the “only way forward for the anarchists [group] is to apologise sincerely, abandon the politics of hate and indulge in constructive politics [instead]”.

Read more: Punjab notifies PTI founder, Qureshi’s jail trial in May 9 riots cases

“Talks are for political parties, not institutions,” the army’s spokesperson

Responding to another question, DG ISPR said the party only gained 31 per cent of votes in the February 8 elections. He also rejected the impression those who voted for the party in general elections endorsed the May 9 attacks.

‘TTP using Afghan soil for attacks in Pakistan’ 

The DG ISPR said Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is using Afghan soil for unrest in Pakistan.

“There is irrefutable evidence of Afghan soil being used by the TTP […] recent terrorist incidents can be traced back to Afghanistan”.

Investigation revealed Afghan soil was used to plan the attack on the Chinese nationals in Dasu, the DG ISPR said, adding that Gwadar Port Complex also came under attack.

Pakistan targetted terrorists in Afghanistan and killed eight of them as the interim government of the Taliban failed to take action against them, he added.

Read more: Mohsin Naqvi directs foolproof measures for Chinese nationals’ protection 

Security forces carried out 13,234 operations against the terrorists, while two officers and 60 jawans embraced martyrdom while fighting terrorism.

“The army chief has said that there’s no place for terrorists in Pakistan,” the general said while reassuring that steps are being taken to bring the miscreants to justice.

Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for decades and helped its residents for safe evacuation.

“Pakistan deported illegal Afghan refugees in the best interest of the country.”