THE top military brass, which met at the 264th Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir in the chair, expressed serious concern over the malicious propaganda campaign meant to demoralize the defence forces, considering it a part of a larger design to drive a wedge between the people and Pakistan’s defence forces. The commanders noted that unfounded and baseless allegations on law enforcement agencies and security forces have become a fashion, warning they will not allow such efforts to succeed and as per the law and Constitution, stern action will be ensured.
We have been emphasizing in these columns, time and again, that the country is passing through a highly delicate phase of its existence due to its economic vulnerabilities and, therefore, it is incumbent upon all stakeholders to shun utterances and actions that could add to the polarization which has already reached dangerous levels. However, it is regrettable that some circles have closed their eyes to the national interests and are engaged in venomous propaganda against the national institutions and spreading false news even about otherwise highly appreciable and beneficial policies and programmes of the Government. No one would object if genuine grievances are agitated through permissible means and in a decent and peaceful manner but the tendency of making institutions controversial for petty political gains is highly deplorable. The extreme nature of the propaganda can be gauged by the fact that Chairman of the PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has quoted the founder of the party as saying ‘the country is factually breaking up’ whereas Pakistan is rising steadily. The systematic campaign launched against the Pakistan Army, its leadership, the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Chief Election Commissioner is certainly politically motivated. The CCC has justifiably concluded that the aim of those behind this malicious and venomous propaganda is to sow seeds of distrust between people and national institutions. The nation stands fully behind the Government, the defence forces and law-enforcing agencies in countering negative propaganda as people would not allow anyone to scuttle the march of the country on the path of economic recovery and stability. The nation is already witnessing signs of improvement due to sincere efforts of the defence forces in extending a helping hand to the Government to tackle different mafias and illegalities and the resolve to continue this support augurs well for a prosperous future.
