RAWALPINDI – Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry is addressing press conference on security situation in Pakistan.
Responding to a question, he said events like May 9 are not hidden or obscure, and the public witnessed everything. Lt Gen Ahmed Sharid said if you do not hold these individuals or groups accountable for planning events like May 9, the threat of fascism will intensify.
It also warned that leniency towards these planners could lead to a rise in authoritarian or oppressive practices.
DG ISPR highlighted an increase in organized propaganda and false news against the armed forces, emphasizing the need to address these issues publicly. Clarifying the nature of Azm-i-Istehkam, he stated it is a comprehensive counter-terrorism campaign backed by national consensus, not a military operation, and criticized its politicization.
He noted that high stakes and monetary interests, rather than ideology, drive opposition to the operation. He highlighted the ongoing effectiveness of kinetic operations but pointed out delays in other aspects of the National Action Plan, such as establishing provincial Counter-Terrorism Departments and regularizing religious seminaries.
He emphasized the importance of ending the “illegal spectrum,” which supports a major illegal economy fueling terrorism and crime, arguing that full implementation of the National Action Plan would benefit society and the nation.
Regarding recent violence at a peace rally in Bannu, DG ISPR explained that negative elements infiltrated the march, leading to violence against the army. He affirmed that the army’s response followed standard procedures and clarified actions during the May 9 incident.
