By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army on Friday dismissed reports of disunity among its ranks and also denied any possibility of martial law being imposed in the country, emphasizing that such an action was completely out of the question.
“I want to say very clearly that General Asim Munir and the army’s leadership wholeheartedly support democracy and will continue to do so. The imposition of martial law is out of the question,” military spokesman Major-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told local Geo TV.
Inter-Services Public Relations’ Director General remarks follow a nearly four-day period of political turmoil triggered by the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on a land graft case.
Khan’s arrest last Tuesday sparked violent protests, during which his supporters set fire to a state broadcaster building, vandalized buses, looted the house of a senior army official, and attacked other assets.
At least eight people were killed in the protest violence. Authorities detained over 3,000 individuals, and the army was deployed to assist in restoring order.
On Friday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted Khan a two-week protective bail and issued a directive prohibiting authorities from arresting him until May 17 in any case registered against the PTI party chief within the jurisdiction of Islamabad after his arrest on May 9.
“The army chief and the army’s senior leadership completely believe in democracy,” Chaudhry said.
Rumors of senior army officers being dismissed due to their support for Khan during his recent arrest circulated widely on social media. In response, the military spokesperson firmly dismissed these speculations.
The Pakistan Army categorically stated that no officers had resigned, refuting rumors that many high-ranking generals within the army were aligned with Khan.
“Despite all-out efforts of internal miscreants and external enemies, the army remains united under Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir,” Chaudhry said. “The dreams of creating division within the army will remain dreams. Neither anyone has resigned nor disobeyed any order.”
In a video message soon after his bail, Khan launched a direct attack on Army Chief General Asim Munir and blamed him for creating chaos in the country, including his arrest.
“I am not against the institution but today the Pakistan Army is getting maligned because of one man – The Pakistan Army Chief,” Khan said.
Following the attacks on military installations by Khan’s supporters, the ISPR described May 9, 2023, the day when chaos gripped the nation after Khan’s arrest, as a “dark chapter” in history.
The ISPR criticized PTI leaders, labeling them “hypocrites” for inciting their workers against the armed forces while simultaneously attempting to overshadow their criticism by praising the military.
For the time being, the unrest in the country has subsided as the Islamabad High Court has granted blanket relief to Khan, preventing authorities from arresting the PTI chief until Monday morning, May 15. The government has indicated that it may proceed with his arrest after this period “if need be.”
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