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Tag: may 9

  • ‘Ali Amin Gandapur condemned May 9 incident in yesterday’s in-camera session,’ claims Vawda

    ‘Ali Amin Gandapur condemned May 9 incident in yesterday’s in-camera session,’ claims Vawda

    Senator Faisal Vawda has claimed that Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the May 9 incident during an in-camera session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) on Tuesday.

    Appearing on a private news outlet the same day, Vawda, who attended the in-camera session, quoted Gandapur as saying, “Ap un ko sazain dain, wo gumrah ho gaye thy (punish them [rioters] as they had been misguided).”

    At least 10 people lost their lives, and over a hundred others sustained injuries in the violent protests on May 9 and May 10. Approximately 40 public buildings and military installations were attacked by rioters. These included the Lahore Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House), Askari Tower in Lahore, General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the ISI Office in Faisalabad, FC Fort in Chakdara, the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar, the Toll Plaza at Swat Motorway, and the Mianwali Air Base.

    On terrorism’s resurgence in KP, former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda further quoted Gandapur as saying, “The KP police stand firm, shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan army,” which it didn’t before.

    Declaring CM KP’s statement in the session as “positive and optimistic,” Vawda emphasised that Gandapur’s approach deserves appreciation.

    On the same day, prominent journalist Azaz Syed, speaking on the YouTube channel Talk SHOCK, made similar claims about Gandapur. He maintained that CM KP supported the state policy regarding terrorism in the session. “As the chief executive of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he [Ali Amin Gandapur] spoke positively and talked about engagement [with the state],” the journalist added.

    The in-camera meeting was held on Tuesday as Pakistan grapples with a resurgence of terrorism, particularly in KP and Balochistan, with security forces and law enforcement agencies facing increasingly frequent attacks.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) Lieutenant General Asim Malik, chief ministers of all four provinces, including Gandapur, and other top officials attended the in-camera session of PCNS in Islamabad.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not attend the session. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, while speaking at a press conference in Islamabad hours before the session, said that their party would skip it until they were given access to the party founder in jail.

    Separately, Imran Khan’s counsel, Faisal Chaudhry, claimed to have held a detailed meeting with the party founder in Adiala Jail. According to him, Khan described the boycott of the PCNS meeting as the right decision.

    “He questioned what kind of consensus the government hopes to achieve by sidelining the country’s largest political party,” Chaudhry said.

  • ‘925 terrorists killed in 59,775 operations’: Army presents 2024 counter-terror report card

    ‘925 terrorists killed in 59,775 operations’: Army presents 2024 counter-terror report card

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday revealed the military’s counter-terror report card for 2024, announcing that over 900 terrorists were killed in nearly 60,000 operations this year.

    In his fifth media briefing of the year, the ISPR chief revealed that over 59,779 IBOs [intelligence-based operations] were carried out against terrorists during 2024. During these operations, 925 terrorists, including Khawarij, were killed and multiple others were apprehended.

    “Pakistan has fought a long war against terrorism and is still fighting. It has rendered highly valued sacrifices in this fight,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said.

    During various operations, he added, a significant quantity of weapons was recovered from terrorist hideouts, demonstrating the scale of the threat and the success of counter-terrorism efforts. 

    The ISPR chief also highlighted the tremendous cost being borne by the armed forces.

    “Everyone must realise that our soldiers are paying the price for these decisions with their blood. Sixteen FC soldiers were martyred just six days ago. Does their blood hold no value?” he questioned while referring to the tragic incident that took place at a South Waziristan checkpost last Friday.

    On Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) hideouts in Afghanistan, Lt Gen Chaudhry said terror roots were often traced back to the neighbouring country and Pakistan remained resolute to dismantle these terror networks without compromise.

    “Networks operating from Afghan soil continue to target Pakistan, and we are resolute in eliminating them,” he said.

    Responding to a journalist’s question about May 9 incidents, he stressed that it was not a case of the Pakistan Army but in fact that of “the people of Pakistan”.

    Commenting on civilians’ trial in military courts and recent convictions, he said that the courts had received validation from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). “Military courts were established decades ago and in accordance with the Constitution and law.”

    Lt Gen Chaudhry made it clear that anyone who was involved in incidents like May 9 in the future would face the same consequences. “The accused can appeal against their convictions to the Army Chief, in high courts or the Supreme Court,” he added.

    Addressing widespread criticism against military trials, the ISPR chief said that those who were now criticising military courts had previously supported them. “They are the ones who previously supported military courts,” he said.

    “The process will continue till the planners and executers of May 9 are brought to justice,” he concluded.

  • Imran Khan was not May 9 mastermind but ‘actively contributed’ to it: report

    Imran Khan was not May 9 mastermind but ‘actively contributed’ to it: report

    Despite different federal ministers and political leaders accusing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan of being the planner of May 9 riots, a report prepared by the interim government has not identified him as the “mastermind” of the incident.

    As per the details, the then caretaker government had named a five-member committee tasked with identifying the “roles of mastermind, planners, facilitators and executors” of May 9 incidents that saw countrywide violence following the arrest of former premier Khan.

    While the violence was widely discussed, including at military forums, even the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press releases or media briefings never mentioned the names of the mastermind or planners of the May 9 incidents.

    This was because, a private media outlet has claimed, the caretaker government on Tuesday presented a report to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet, wherein former premier Khan was mentioned as someone who “actively contributed” to the planning of attacks on military installations but did not label him as the “mastermind”.

    Evidence shown to the committee suggests several party leaders were involved in this planning, the media report maintained, adding that the caretaker government’s report further accused 52 individuals of planning the May 9 violent demonstrations and 185 persons of executing the plan.

    However, it did not mention the name of the planner or the person who came up with the strategy.

    “The pattern of violence on May 9, 2023, suggests that these people were following a carefully crafted strategy in attacking specific targets, including military installations. An examination of call logs shows that certain PTI leaders made these calls to the rioters attacking the Jinnah House,” the report said.

    Dozens were injured and properties worth millions damaged as PTI activists took to roads for violent demonstrations after party chief Khan was arrested in the Al Qadir Trust case from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) last year. The arrest had come hours after the former premier posted a video message wherein he called out the military yet again.

    As many as 40 public and military installations, including Lahore Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House), Askari Tower in Lahore, General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Office in Faisalabad, FC Fort in Chakdara, Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar, Toll Plaza at Swat Motorway and the Mianwali Air Base, were attacked between May 9 and May 10.

  • August 22 rally could have turned into another May 9, Imran Khan hints at conspiracy

    August 22 rally could have turned into another May 9, Imran Khan hints at conspiracy

    Founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan spoke to journalists at the Adiala jail courtroom about postponing the August 22 rally, saying that after learning of the religious parties’ strike at Islamabad, he rescheduled the rally.

    “I was given information that religious parties are on strike over the matter of Khatam-e-Nabuwat, so there was fear of chaos, upon which I advised the Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and Azam Swati to cancel the scheduled rally.”

    He added, “I would never want chaos in the country.”

    “The whole party is in rage and grief over the postponement of the rally”, Imran Khan said.

    “If the rally took place, there were concerns that another May 9 case would be imposed on the party, even though a former judicial inquiry has not been completed,” Khan concluded.

  • Asad Qaiser apologises for Gen Bajwa’s extension

    Asad Qaiser apologises for Gen Bajwa’s extension

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser apologised to the people of Pakistan on July 20 for extending the tenure of former Army Chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    “I apologise to the nation for granting an extension to General Bajwa. It was a mistake that we deeply regret,” said Qaiser on Samaa TV.

    In 2019, former Prime Minister Imran Khan approved an extension of then-Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure for another three years in a notification which stated, “The decision has been taken in view of the regional security environment.”

    The former Speaker of the National Assembly admitted that the decision backfired on the party. Qaiser also hinted at starting peaceful protests if party founder Imran Khan faces a military trial.

    He further suggested that legal international avenues like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) could be explored if the situation arises.

  • Pakki dosti: Former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar admits to chatting with Gen Faiz

    Pakki dosti: Former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar admits to chatting with Gen Faiz

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar on Monday confirmed that he had been in contact with former ISI Chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed; however, journalist Ansar Abbasi revealed that he categorically denied any wrongdoing or connection with May 9 riots.

    “I swear that I have nothing to do with May 9, PTI and its politics,” revealed Saqib Nisar.

    He said that the allegations against him are “totally nonsensical.” The former CJP also clarified that he attended Gen Faiz’s daughter’s wedding ceremony and has been exchanging routine pleasantries and wishes on various occasions.

    He recalled that when he and his family visited northern areas of the country, the general was “very kind to look after them.”

    The CJP also recounted that Gen Faiz used to meet his registrar besides occasionally sending him “for eyes only” messages during his tenure as the Chief Justice.

    “I have nothing to worry about,” he said, revealing that he is returning to Pakistan on September 5th.

  • Two PTI politicians left the party on Faiz’s involvement in May 9 riots

    Two PTI politicians left the party on Faiz’s involvement in May 9 riots

    Two senior politicians of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) left the party upon discovering General (retd) Faiz Hameed’s involvement in the May 9 riots, Geo’s Shehzad Iqbal has claimed in his show.

    The two politicians were shown evidence of Faiz Hameed being involved in attempts to incite mutiny in the Pakistan Army, Shahzad said on his talk show Naya Pakistan.

    Both politicians told Shehzad that while they were held in custody, they were told that the attacks on military installations and arson were first initiated by Faiz Hameed’s people at Jinnah House. Later, PTI-affiliated people and crowds joined them.

  • Three more retired army officers taken into military custody: ISPR

    Three more retired army officers taken into military custody: ISPR

    Three more retired army officers have been taken into custody by Pakistan’s Army in connection with the recent arrest of Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid, according to a statement released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

    This comes after the arrest of former spymaster Faiz Hamid earlier this week.

    “In connection with the FGCM proceedings of Lt Gen (Retd) Faiz Hameed, three retired officers are also in military custody for their actions prejudicial to military discipline,” noted the ISPR press release.

    The ISPR further stated that the retired officers were arrested for violations of military discipline.

    “Further investigations of certain retired officers and their accomplices for fomenting instability at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests are continuing,” the press release read.

    Faiz Hameed was taken into custody by the army on August 12, over allegations of land grabbing and seizing valuables from the owner of Top City Housing Society.

  • PTI office raid revealed Gen Faiz’s role in facilitating PTI, alleges Omar Cheema

    PTI office raid revealed Gen Faiz’s role in facilitating PTI, alleges Omar Cheema

    Journalist Omar Cheema revealed last night on his YouTube channel, Omar Cheema Exclusive, that when authorities raided the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretariat last month, they found evidence of former spymaster Lt Gen (retd) Faiz’s “role in facilitating PTI.”

    On July 13, former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid was taken into custody by the army over allegations of land grabbing and snatching valuables from the owner of a private housing society

    Omar alleged, “Gen Faiz was connected to PTI leadership and trained them to bypass intelligence agencies’ supervision because he was the inside man.”

    The journalist further claimed, “The problem that the army is facing is the involvement of its own people with PTI. And the leader of all these internal dissenters is Gen Faiz.”

    He stated that the founder of PTI, Imran Khan, was getting some facilities in jail that nobody could explain until now.

    Cheema claimed that the Top City Case in which Gen Faiz was found guilty was just for optics, while the real reason was his cooperation with PTI and Imran Khan.

    “This is a big setback for Imran Khan because his biggest supporter has been arrested,” said Cheema.

    He said this indicates where the relationship between the army and the PTI is going.

  • ‘Interviews have begun for technocratic setup,’ Sheikh Rasheed claims

    ‘Interviews have begun for technocratic setup,’ Sheikh Rasheed claims

    Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has claimed that a technocratic setup may take over by September 20 this year because “interviews have begun.”

    Rasheed, while talking to the media outside Adiala Jail, lamented, “It has been two years and 14 cases have been filed against me, but I’ve received no challans yet.”

    The former Interior Minister described his feelings saying, “They said I’ve lost 40kg weight. I never thought the Gate No 4 people would pick me up. The police took our women’s jewellery, my watches and shoes too.”

    He requested the people with whom he had a “decades long relation” and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir to declare amnesty.

    Sheikh Rasheed further stated, “August 31 is significant; the government is packing its bags. Technocratic government can come by September 20, and whatever happens, it will be bad.”