New Delhi: The Pakistan Army is undertaking a clean-up within its ranks, announcing Monday that it had sacked former Lahore Corps Commander Lt Gen Salman Fayyaz Ghani and two other officers over the 9 May violence that saw military installations attacked by supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan, which it referred to as a “black chapter in history”.
While the three officers have been sacked for “failing to keep the security and honour of garrisons, military installations, Jinnah House and General Headquarters intact”, many others are facing disciplinary charges. After the violence, Lt Gen Ghani was removed from the Lahore Corps and attached to the army headquarters.
“Three officers, including a lieutenant-general, have been removed from their jobs. Strict disciplinary proceedings against officers, including three major generals and seven brigadiers, have been completed,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif said at a press conference.
He also said that over 100 civilian protesters are facing trial under the Army Act at 17 military courts across the country.
Maj-Gen Sharif further said that the accountability system was the same for all, irrespective of rank or family connections. A retired four-star general’s granddaughter, a retired four-star general’s son-in-law, a former three-star general’s wife, and a retired two-star general’s wife and son-in-law are among the 102 civilians who are facing action in army tribunals, he added.
The ISPR chief started off the press conference by saying: “Ladies and gentlemen, the incident of 9 May is extremely disappointing, condemnable and a black chapter in the history of our country.”
He said that the protests had been planned for months and youth were misled into thinking that they were part of some revolution.
He also played videos of the children and families of fallen soldiers asking why military installations and the army were attacked by the people when their own had given their lives to protect the country.
“While the Pakistan Army is giving these sacrifices, on the other hand, unfortunately, filthy propaganda was done on the basis of a false narrative for nefarious political objectives,” said Maj-Gen Sharif.
He said the army has completed a “self-accountability” process through two comprehensive inquiries led by major generals.
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‘Will be punished no matter what political party…’
The ISPR chief said that all “planners and facilitators” of the 9 May attacks will be punished according to the law “no matter what political party or institution or social status they may be associated with”.
Responding to questions, he said that the masterminds and planners of the attack were those who were “misleading people for the past several months against the army and its leadership”.
He further said that the objective of the attack was to send people to target military installations and then draw an immediate reaction from the army.
“No one expected that a political party would attack its own army like this. But when it did happen, the army rendered this conspiracy unsuccessful. Had it given the response they wanted, their conspiracy would have been successful,” he said.
Asked about alleged human rights violations of those in custody, the ISPR chief dismissed them as fake claims being made by “terrorist organisations that hide behind the garb of human rights violations when action is taken against them”.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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