By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The military chief General Asim Munir warned that social media platforms are being used to spread “anarchy” in the country, as tensions escalate between the armed forces and online critics.
“Anarchy is being spread through social media,” Munir said in a speech at an Ulema-o-Mashaikh convention in Islamabad. “If someone tries to create chaos in Pakistan, by God, we will stand before them.”
Munir vowed to give a “befitting response” if anyone attempted to create “unrest and chaos” in Pakistan.
“No power in the world can harm Pakistan because this country is built to last.”
Munir’s remarks follow criticism by military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry of “digital terrorists” using social media to undermine the military’s anti-militancy efforts, in a veiled reference to the party of jailed ex-premier Imran Khan.
Chaudhry earlier this week said that existing laws are insufficient to curb “digital terrorism.”
Khan’s popularity, fueled by social media, has persisted despite his ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote last year. His party has faced a state-backed crackdown, which critics say has only bolstered support for Khan.
The government is installing a nationwide firewall to regulate internet usage, control access to social media sites, and identify IP addresses associated with “anti-state propaganda.”
The social media platform X has been banned in the country since February.
The military faces growing criticism on social media allegedly by supporters of Khan’s PTI party, with the government responding by cracking down on journalists and online users accused of spreading “negative propaganda.” The measures have sparked concerns over freedom of expression and internet access in the country.
General Munir urged scholars and clerics to promote tolerance and unity, saying: “Bring back moderation to society and reject corruption in the world.”
“Spreading unrest is the biggest crime, and the Pakistan Army, under the ordains of Allah Almighty, is striving to eliminate unrest,” the army chief said. “We do not consider those who do not accept Shariah [Islamic law] and the constitution to be Pakistanis.”
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