ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army said on Monday "perpetrators, spoilers and violators" involved in violent acts against military installations after former Prime Minister Imran Khan's arrest last week would be tried under military laws.
The military’s statement, which came after a meeting of the army's corps commanders, marks a further escalation in the long-running showdown between the military and Khan, who has the backing of large numbers of supporters and whose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is arguably the country's most popular political party.
Last week, Khan was dragged out of a courtroom and arrested in the capital of Islamabad in a land fraud case, unleashing violent protests by his supporters who stormed military properties and establishments, set ablaze a state broadcaster building, smashed buses, ransacked a top army general's house and attacked other assets, resulting in the army being deployed in multiple cities. Hundreds were arrested in the aftermath and at least six people were killed.
“The Forum resolved that restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators, spoilers and violators who attack military installations and setups under any circumstances,” the army said in a statement following the corps commanders meeting.
“The Forum expressed firm resolve that those involved in these heinous crimes against the military installations and personal/equipment will be brought to justice through trials under relevant laws of Pakistan including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act.”
The army warned that restraint would no longer be exercised against those who targeted military installations and setups and resolved to defeat the “externally sponsored and internally facilitated, orchestrated propaganda warfare” it said had been unleashed against the army leadership to create fissures between the people of Pakistan and the army, as well as within its rank and file.
“The vicious propaganda of such inimical forces will be defeated with the support of people of Pakistan, who have always stood with the Armed Forces during all odds,” the army said, calling for the “strict implementation of relevant laws to penalize the violators of the social media rules and regulations.”
However, the army also advised political leaders in the country to develop "national consensus" to address the ongoing political instability "to restore public confidence, reinvigorate economic activity and strengthen democratic process," adding that it would support all efforts to reach the much-needed consensus.
In a video message, Khan said attacks on state institutions following his arrest last week took place under a “planned conspiracy” to get his party banned.
“I want to tell the nation that you have to defeat this conspiracy," he said, calling for an independent inquiry.
“Miscreants with weapons were inserted into the protests under a planned conspiracy and they incited the protesters … we have video evidence of this.”
Khan, who was ousted from the office of the prime minister in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence last April, has blamed the army, and its then army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, of plotting with his political rivals, who now form the incumbent coalition government of PM Shehbaz Sharif, to remove him.
Khan came to power in a 2018 general election widely believed to have been rigged in his favor by the military — which both deny — but has since had a falling out with the army. He has said in recent interviews that his party’s relations with the army have not improved under the new army chief, Gen Asim Munir.
Last week, Khan, appearing to get bail in the land fraud case in which he was arrested, told reporters he did not have a problem with the army as an institution but only the army chief, who was “petrified” the ex-premier would sack him if he returned to power.
“I doubt there is any sense in the army chief right now because he’s so petrified if I win the elections, I’ll de-notify him, he’s dismantling the future of this country to protect himself,” Khan said to reporters during a break in the hearing.
“You have a man up there who, in order to preserve himself, is dismantling our democracy, our constitution, fundamental rights, he’s basically dismantling the future of this country to protect himself. And I’ve assured him, I’ve said, ‘Look, I won’t remove you’. But there is some paranoia there.”
Khan has also blamed an apparent assassination attempt on his life last year on the military, repeatedly naming serving intelligence official Maj. Gen. Faisal Naseer for plotting to kill him. Khan has also said Naseer was behind the murder of a pro-Khan TV anchor, Arshad Sharif, shot dead in Nairobi last year in what Kenyan police have called a case of “mistaken identity.”
Last week, the army formally released a statement against Khan and his party, calling the accusations “highly irresponsible and baseless” and warning of legal action if the “propaganda” continued.
