Military spokesman says strict action taken against 15 officers, including three major generals and seven brigadiers. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Maj Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has announced that disciplinary action has been taken over the failure to ensure security of garrisons and military installations on May 9, and as a result, three officers, including a lieutenant general, sacked.
He further said strict action has been taken against 15 officers, including three major generals and seven brigadiers. He said, adding some elements sitting in the country fuel such narratives.
Responding to a question, he said the incident of May 9 did not happen all of a sudden, adding the aim of attacking the military installations was to provoke the army.
Under a conspiracy, women were also used as shields. After May 9, the army foiled the conspiracy by not reacting immediately. The decision for accountability was made within the institution after considering all the evidence.
The masterminds behind the May 9 events are those who are plotting against the army. The army spokesman said it was necessary to expose the planners of the May 9 violence and bring them to justice. If that is not done, some other political group will repeat the incident tomorrow for nefarious purposes.
The propaganda on social media has become an epidemic, he insisted.
When asked by a journalist that Imran Khan is repeatedly saying he would only want to negotiate with army chief Gen Asim Munir, the ISPR DG responded that all stakeholders should sit together and reach a consensus so that economic stability and a strong democracy could prosper.
He further said that the defense budget was around 12.8% of the total federal budget, while last year it was 16%. This year’s budget, he claimed, was the lowest in history. The budget cut was made considering the economy.
The armed forces did not consider the country separate from the economy, he said, adding everyone was part of the problems and had to solve the problem together.
Preparations are underway to meet the defense requirements. Despite the low defense budget, we defeated India on February 2019, while 48 countries failed in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan, but the Pakistan Army won the war against terrorism.
