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COAS RULES OUT ANY ‘COMPROMISE OR DEAL’ WITH PLANNERS, ARCHITECTS OF MAY 9 Friday, 10 May, 2024 I |1 Zil-Qadah, 1445
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PM SHEHBAZ SAYS VIOLENT RIOTS AIMED AT ENDING DEMOCRACY, ESTABLISHING AN ‘INDIVIDUAL’S DICTATORSHIP’
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ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
MID press conferences, condemnation statements and ceremonies to the first anniversary of May 9 riots on Thursday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir ruled out any “compromise or deal with the planners and architects of this dark chapter in our history”. According to a statement from the Inter Services Public Relations issued here, COAS Munir said that May 9 would “undoubtedly remain a black day in the history of Pakistan when deliberately indoctrinated and insidiously guided miscreants attacked the symbols of the state and national unity, disgracefully desecrating the martyrs’ monuments”. On the other hand, Pakistan’s armed forces, along with the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and services chiefs, Thursday strongly condemned the criminal acts perpetrated during the May 9 riots last year. Similarly, political leaders also held press conferences throughout the day and issued statements to strongly condemn the violent events while assailing the PTI for them. The arrest of former premier Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court on May 9 last year in the £190m graft case by the paramilitary Rangers had sparked widespread violence. During the violent incidents, important military installations and martyrs monuments had also come under attack, which triggered a severe crackdown on PTI founder Imran Khan and the party leadership. While Imran was released a few days later (he has since been rearrested in a separate case), thousands of PTI workers and almost the entire top-tier leadership were rounded up, with many still facing court proceed-
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ISPR DUBS DAY A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO BRING ABOUT A MISPLACED AND SHORTSIGHTED REVOLUTION IN COUNTRY
ings under serious charges. The COAS said there could be “no compromise or deal with the planners and architects of this dark chapter in our history”, explaining that the reason for this was the mindset of the incident’s schemers who were now “brazenly and shamelessly trying to twist the narrative and implicate the state in this despicable endeavour”. Gen Munir said that the country’s enemies were given the chance to mock the state and its people due to the “deplorable acts of criminally orchestrated violence” on the day. “Those gullible elements who did not understand the real motive behind this criminal enterprise and were used as cannon fodder for the political ambitions of the masterminds have already been accorded reasonable benefit of doubt on the direction of Supreme Court of Pakistan. “However, the real leaders who present themselves as victims now will be held accountable for their actions, particularly when there is irrefutable evidence of their involvement and complicity in organised violence and sabotage,” he was quoted as saying in the statement. It added that the army chief reassured officers and soldiers that no one would be allowed to disrespect martyrs, their families or the military. “Planners, abettors, facilitators and culprits of May 9 will be brought to justice according to the law of the land and our patience not to respond to daily provocations in this regard made in brazen violation of the constitution has limits and it must never be misconstrued as weakness,” he said. COAS Munir lauded troops for their “services to nation and appreciated their professionalism”, underscoring that inimical forces and their abettors had “unleashed digital terrorism and are trying hard to create division between armed forces and people of Pakistan through
peddling lies, fake news and propaganda”. He added that “the designs of all these forces will be defeated with the support of the nation.” The army chief asserted that every military soldier and officer put his duties and responsibilities first, regardless of any other affiliations or preferences and continued to render “extreme sacrifices” on a daily basis. Later, he inaugurated the Jinnah Library at Lahore Garrison, saying: “We being the constructive forces have rekindled the memory of Quaid by building this public library over the piles of ash and rubble created by the destructive forces.” The army chief’s remarks come a day after Imran refused to apologise for the May 9 riots. He was speaking to the media after the court proceedings in the £190 million corruption case at Adiala jail. When asked whether he would apologise for the May 9 violent protest, Imran had replied in the negative, saying he was under detention at the time and was unaware of those protests. The ex-premier had mentioned that he became aware of the protests when he appeared before thenchief justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial. “I had already condemned those violent protests,” he added. Imran had further said that if the establishment was not interested in dialogue, the PTI would not pursue it either. According to the former premier, he wanted dialogue for the sake of Pakistan, not to strike a deal for personal favours. MAY 9 RIOTS AIMED AT ENDING DEMOCRACY: PM SHEHBAZ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the violent riots were aimed at ending democracy in Pakistan and establishing an “individual’s dictatorship”. Addressing a special meeting of the federal cabinet at Parliament House, the premier said: “The real aim of May 9 [incidents] was to end democracy in Pakistan and god forbid, bury the Constitution, and a nefarious goal of establishing kingship and dictatorship of an individual.” “The impure plan of May 9 was not just a rebellion against Pakistan but against the state, the Pakistan Army and army chief Gen Asim Munir,” he said. PM Shehbaz said the aim of convening the meeting at Parliament House was to send a message to the nation that “not only will we remember our martyrs and their families till the day of judgment but also to give a message of unity with them”. “I think that these anti-state elements are displaying the worst enmity in the guise of a friend and a sympathiser,” the prime minister asserted. He recalled various steps taken by the then-coalition government to save the country from economic default and improve relations with brotherly countries. The premier linked the May 9 attacks to the various corruption cases against Imran and his party.
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Seven ‘Punjabi’ barbershop workers shot dead in Gwadar QUETTA
STAFF REPORT
Unknown gunmen on Thursday gunned down seven barbershop workers and injured another in Gwadar’s Surbandar area during a late-night raid on their residential quarters while asleep, the police officials said. Gwadar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Zohaib Mohsin confirmed the incident, saying the victims were workers at a barber shop in Surbandar area, some 25 kilometres from Gwadar. “The incident took place at approximately 3am when the assailants raided their residential quarters and shot them dead while asleep”, the SSP said, adding that the victims hailed from Punjab’s Khanewal and Lodhran districts, while the injured belongs to Mian Channu, Khanewal. “We are investigating the matter at the moment but apparently it looks like they were attacked because they were Punjabis,” the SSP told AFP. Following the incident, the police shifted the injured person and bodies of the deceased to Gwadar Hospital, SSP Mohsin said. He added that the area was cordoned off by law enforcement as ac-
tion had begun to find the miscreants. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. According to Gwadar Deputy Commissioner Hamoodur Rehman, the bodies have been shifted to their native areas via four ambulances. The injured has also been shifted to Karachi after medical aid was administered to him, he added. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti condemned the killing of the workers in Gwadar, calling it “open terrorism”. He expressed his condolences to
their families and said that their families would not be abandoned, vowing to provide all possible support to the families. “We will chase after terrorists and their facilitators,” Bugti said, adding that there is no soft corner or place for them in Pakistan. “Whatever force is needed against the terrorists will be used,” the chief minister said. He stressed that the writ of the state would be enforced in any case. “Every single drop of the blood of Pakistanis will be accounted for,” he said.
Condemnations Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident and expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement on X by state broadcaster PTV News. “This incident of terrorism is a cowardly act of the enemies of the country. We are determined to eradicate terrorism from its roots,” the statement read. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi echoed similar sentiments, expressing deep sorrow and condolences over the killing of the seven labourers. “The beasts who play with the lives of the innocent don’t deserve to be called humans,” Naqvi said in a statement shared by the Ministry of Interior on X. Meanwhile, the Balochistan government also condemned the killing and called it “open terrorism”, according to a spokesperson. Administrative officers reached the site of the incident and were in touch with district administration, the spokesperson said. Families of the deceased are being contacted, the spokesperson added. An investigation into the incident has been ordered, the spokesperson noted.
US lauds Pakistan’s efforts for bringing peace and stability in region RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
Commander United States (US) CENTCOM General Michael Erik Kurilla on Tuesday acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Army’s successes in the fight against terrorism and Pakistan’s continued efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region, the military’s media said on Thursday. According to a statement from the ISPR, Commander US CENTCOM Gen Michael Erik Kurilla expressed these remarks during a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir at GHQ in Rawalpindi. Matters of shared interests, particularly cooperation in regional security matters came under discussion during the meeting, the ISPR said. Both sides discussed avenues of joint training and reiterated the need for enhancing training interactions between CENTCOM and the Pakistan Army. The visiting dignitary acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Army’s successes in fight against terrorism and Pakistan’s continued efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region.
Pakistan terms USCIRF’s report as faulty, non-reflective of ground realities ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Foreign Office on Thursday rejected the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) report as faulty and non-reflective of ground realities in Pakistan. At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the report is based on unsubstantiated allegations. She said Pakistan believes that USCIRF’s annual exercise of designating countries is unwarranted and futile. The futility can be gauged by the fact that since 2020 the US State Department has ignored its recommendations to declare India a country of particular concern. She said this exercise will have more credibility if it were free of double standards and geo-political considerations and if it paid increased attention to the glaring rise of Islamophobia. The spokesperson said such arbitrary designations also undermine the objective of fostering understanding and cooperation which can be achieved through dialogue and constructive engagement. Responding to a question, the spokesperson said no dialogue is taking place with India. She welcomed the reaffirmation by the OIC for its strong and unequivocal position on Jammu and Kashmir dispute at the recently concluded 15th Islamic summit in the Gambia. She pointed out that the moot at its final communique reaffirmed unwavering support for and solidarity with the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their quest for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC resolutions. The spokesperson reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to their Kashmiri brothers and sisters. The spokesperson said Pakistan is concerned about the terror threat it faces from individuals and entities in Afghanistan. She said we have also found evidence that the attack on Chinese engineers in Besham has links with the terrorists currently residing inside the neighboring country. She said the planning of this attack took place in Afghanistan. She called upon the Afghan authorities to take meaningful and effective against the terrorist groups including the TTP.
PM Shehbaz approves Peca law amendments to regulate social media
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given ap-
proval for a draft to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 as part of the federal government’s decision to regulate social media through legislation, as per sources. According to the proposed PECA Amendment Bill 2024, the establishment of a Digital Rights Protection Authority has been suggested, while the bill will be presented in the Parliament once its approved by the cabinet, the sources said. The proposed amendment bill was recommended by the cabinet’s Legal Reforms Committee, which suggested the establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Authority, which will fall under the Ministry of Information Technology’s jurisdiction, they added. The sources further revealed that the authority will, therefore, advise the government on matters related to digital rights, ensure responsible use of the internet and enforce regulations. It will collaborate with social media platforms to facilitate the promotion of a positive digital ecosystem. It will also regulate
online content, investigate violations of the new PECA law on social media and take action against violators. The proposed authority will be able to demand information from involved individuals and witnesses. It may also establish rules
to enforce laws related to digital rights and will create a secure and trustworthy digital environment while promoting user protection online and safeguarding fundamental rights. As per the officials, this bill has been formulated to protect the privacy of citi-
zens from the dangers associated with social media and has no connection with institutions. Earlier, the Ministry of IT had issued an SRO to establish the National Cyber Crime Investigation Authority.
ISLAMABAD
ernment effort against freedom of expression. He said that the overt and the covert planners of May 9 false flag operation were hell-bent to muzzle the voice of the people after they badly trounced them in the dialogue and narrative. PTI Spokesperson stated that the government seized powers through polls fraud was trying to usurp the basic and constitutional rights of the citizens, adding that state and political criminals were battling for perpetuation of personal dictatorship to conceal their wrongdoings. He went on to say that after destroying the national media completely, the enemies
of constitution and law were planning to silent the voice of 24 crore Pakistanis by imposing restrictions on social media. PTI Spokesperson stated that the mandate thieves failed to mislead the public despite wasting billions of rupees on advertisements to run false propaganda campaign, hence they resorted to muzzle the voices of all Pakistanis through imposing restrictions on social media. He asked that if there was any sense of shame and modesty left in political groups shouldering the funeral of dictatorship, they should avoid to bury the constitution and democracy through parliament.
PTI vows to resist attempts to block social media in, outside parliament STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson categorically stated that PTI would strongly resist every state and government’s attempt to block social media in and outside of the parliament as the mandate thieves would not be allowed to shutdown social media in any circumstances. Strongly reacting to the mandate-thief government and the enemy of fundamental constitutional rights’ plan to impose restrictions on social media, PTI Spokesperson said that PTI would strongly resist every gov-