Rawalpindi (Web Desk): Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir has vowed to bring to justice "all the planners, abettors, instigators and executors of vandalism will be brought to justice.
According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, the army chief said this as he visited the Corps Headquarters Peshawar on Saturday.
"The armed forces will not tolerate any further attempt of violating the sanctity and security of its installations or vandalism and resolved to bring to justice all the planners, abettors, instigators and “executors of vandalism on the Black Day of 9th May,” the COAS said.
The army chief also addressed the officers of the Corps and emphasised the evolving threats to national security.
“We shall continue with our endeavours of peace and stability and there will be no room for spoilers of the process,” COAS Asim Munir was quoted as saying.
The ISPR said that the army chief also sensitised about challenges of information warfare and efforts to create misperceptions.
The COAS highlighted that a concerted effort is being made maliciously by inimical elements to target the armed forces. He pledged that such nefarious attempts will be foiled through the support of people of Pakistan.
"During the visit, Gen Munir was also given a detailed briefing on the prevailing security situation and ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
He appreciated the professional competence, performance and achievements of law enforcement agencies in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Earlier on arrival, the COAS was received by Corps Commander Peshawar.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz also directed the relevant authorities to immediately arrest all those elements who were involved in different abhorrent and unpardonable incidents of vandalism, attacks and arson of May 9, inflicting massive damages to public and private properties across Punjab province.
Addressing a meeting during his visit to Punjab Safe Cities Authority, the premier minister set a deadline of 72 hours for the law enforcement agencies to arrest all those people involved in setting on fire different buildings and infrastructure including the historic Jinnah (Corps commander) house.
It is pertinent to mention that protests erupted in major cities across the country after Imran Khan's arrest from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May.
The protests soon turned violent, with military installations and government offices, such as those of Jinnah House in Lahore, Radio Pakistan and Associated Press of Pakistan, being set on fire in Peshawar.
On May 11, the Supreme Court (SC) declared the PTI chief’s arrest “invalid and unlawful” and on May 12, the IHC granted him bail, barring police from arresting him in any case till May 15.