Military’s stance on May 9 remains unchanged, says ISPR DG

RAWALPINDI (Dateline News) – Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Monday the army’s stance on the May 9 protests remained unchanged and there would be continuity. he ISPR DG addressed an all-important press conference at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi and briefed the nation on the security situation of the country. Starting off his presser, he said the country and its armed forces would remain committed to highlight the Kashmir issue at the international forums. He said India was committing all sorts of injustices in Kashmir, adding that snatching the special status and continued lockdown was tantamount to human rights abuses.On the fight against terrorism, the ISPR DG disclosed that 23,622 intelligence-based operations had been conducted in the ongoing year. Of these, he said, 2,045 operations were conducted in the last 5 days, which eliminated 24 terrorists. He also said more than 100 IBOs were conducted by the army and other law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) on a daily basis. He mentioned that 139 soldiers of the Pakistani security forces embraced martyrdom during the first seven months of the ongoing year. “The entire nation pays tribute to the brave martyrs and their families,” the DG said. “This shows that the Pakistani security forces, law-enforcement agencies, and intelligence agencies are entirely focused on making the country’s internal and border security certain and lasting,” he said. Mentioning the government’s notification which declared the proscribed TTP “Fitna al-Khawarij,” and its members as Kharji or outcasts, he said the militant outfit had nothing to do with Islamic principles. “It is not an ideology but just mischief,” the ISPR DG said.On the education front, he said, “Digital education is also being provided to the youth.” He said Balochistan’s students were country’s future. A scholarship programme has been started for them and apart from their studies, the army has also been covering their additional expenses. “About 92 schools are being run in Balochistan for better education and 19,000 students are getting education from there,” the ISPR DG added.  Also, he said the army had established 171 schools and three cadet colleges in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Not only in the education sector alone, the army’s spokesperson said the army had helped a great deal in the construction of roads and bridges in Balochistan which created an ease in the lives of the people.