The Pakistan military top brass has vowed to tighten the “noose of law” around “planners and masterminds of the May 09 riots, a statement issued by the military’s media wing said.

“It has been further stressed that, while the legal trials of perpetrators and instigators have commenced, it is time that the noose of law is also tightened around the planners and masterminds who mounted the hate-ripened and politically driven rebellion against the state and state institutions to achieve their nefarious design of creating chaos in the country,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir was presiding over the 81st Formation Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

The forum discussed strategy, operational, and training matters, besides deliberating on organisational issues.

Corps Commanders, Principal Staff Officers, and all Formation Commanders of the Pakistan Army were also present in attendance.

“The forum paid rich tribute to the supreme sacrifices of shuhada (martyrs) including officers and men of the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies, and shuhada from civil society who laid [down] their lives for the safety, security and dignity of the country,” the military’s media wing said.

They were also briefed on the prevalent environment, challenges to security i.e. both internal & external, and their own operational preparedness in response to evolving threats, both traditional and non-traditional.

According to ISPR, the forum was also briefed on the structural changes and niche technologies being incorporated to enhance operational preparedness besides the up-gradation of essential logistic infrastructure corresponding to emerging security imperatives.

In his address, the COAS reiterated that Pakistan Army will remain committed to their national obligations of safeguarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty“ of the country.

“People of Pakistan and their deep bondage with the Armed Forces is and will remain central to all our undertakings and events of 25th May were a clear manifestation of same,” he said.

The forum concluded that “unfounded and baseless allegations” on Law Enforcement Agencies and Security Forces for custodial torture, human rights abuses, and stifling of political activities are meant to mislead the people and malign Armed Forces in order to achieve trivial vested political interests.

Moreover, the forum while condemning the “9th May Black Day incidents” in the strictest sense reiterated their “firm resolve that desecrators of Shuhada Monuments, Jinnah House and attackers of military installations would certainly be brought to justice speedily under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act which are the derivatives of the Constitution of Pakistan”.

“In this regard, efforts to create distortions and attempts to take refuge behind imaginary and mirage Human Rights Violations to create a smoke screen for hiding the ugly faces of all involved, are absolutely futile and do not stand the abundantly collected irrefutable evidence.

“It has been further stressed that, while the legal trials of perpetrators and instigators have commenced, it is time that the noose of law is also tightened around the planners and masterminds who mounted the hate-ripened and politically driven rebellion against the state and state institutions to achieve their nefarious design of creating chaos in the country,” the ISPR said.

“Forum also resolved that endeavors by any quarter to create obstructions and stymie the conclusive defeat of ill design of inimical forces will be dealt with iron hands.”

COAS stressed on maintaining high standards of professionalism and motivation during operations and achieving excellence during the training of their formations.

He commended the commanders for their constant focus on the well-being and high state of morale of their soldiers who remain the foundation of the Army’s operational readiness.

Forum concluded by affirming the resolve to render all sacrifices necessary for the security and stability of the country with the perpetual support of the proud people of Pakistan.