ISLAMABAD:
Military spokesperson Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Thursday refuted media reports attributing apology remarks to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, the DG ISPR said that journalist Sohail Warraich’s article was based on an event held in Brussels, where hundreds of people took pictures with the field marshal but no interview was given by the army chief.
He clarified that there was no mention of PTI or any apology at the event, adding that it was the journalist’s own work for personal gain and publicity.
DG ISPR further said the senior journalist had shown irresponsibility for personal gain and a publicity stunt, as the field marshal gave no interview during his Brussels visit. However, he reiterated that the perpetrators of the May 9 riots wo uld have to face the law.
Responding to a question about possible legal action against the media outlet for airing misleading reports, he stressed: “We have said it explicitly that the institutions should show responsibility and avoid reporting inappropriate information.”
Pakistan is a country that has a potential to change the fate of the region, which is why it is attacked frequently, the ISPR DG asserted, adding the youth should understand the legacy and history of their ideological state.
Ahmed Chaudhry said that the Indian designs of discrediting Pak Army through terrorist proxies and other facilitators have been foiled by Pak Army’s befitting response. They were wrong in believing that they could defeat Pakistan through their multi-billion military might. On the ground, Pakistan defeated both India and its proxies – Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan -simultaneously.
The DG ISPR further highlighted that the decision taken by all political parties in 2014 to stamp out terrorism from Pakistan has not been fully implemented to date. He pointed out that whenever illegal Afghans involved in crimes were expelled, some political and criminal elements within the country start creating fuss. He termed implementation on 14 points of the National Action Plan pivotal.
The military spokesperson said the army, police and law enforcement agencies are bridging the governance gap with their blood on a daily basis, adding, “Pakistani youth are our asset.”
