A massive illegal political mafia is making “Azm-e-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability)” controversial for huge money and vested interests.
Digital terrorism is continuing against the armed forces and if it continues, the situation will get worse. Important issues are being sacrificed on the altar of politics.
Instead, the courts move forward against them, they’re given further space and are made heroes.
The Army’s system is clear as there are clear directions. If there is a military situation, the military personnel respond accordingly.
The situation worsens when the judicial system gives flexibility to the criminals of May 9.
These are five major points that the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR) Lt. General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry raised during Monday’s press conference.
How these words are interpreted is not known but to the analysts it is a loud and clear message to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the judiciary.
Though the spokesperson of the armed forces didn’t name who this “Illegal political mafia” is but if it is not the PTI and its allies then who it can be is perhaps not known to the entire nation.
The Apex Committee approved “Azm-e-Istehkam” which the DG called “Organized and comprehensive campaign” to root out terrorism, the PTI and the JUIF opposed it.
They agreed to put up a joint front against this operation unless an in-camera briefing on the operation is given and parliament is taken into confidence. Which parliament they are talking about is not known because to them this parliament is not a parliament.
These parties said, “Our belief is that a military operation is not the solution to the issue. All political parties must play their due role to establish peace in the province.”
The statement issued by the PTI said, “The two agreed that their parties would play the role of a “strong opposition” in the National Assembly.”
They agreed to fulfil their role in maintaining brotherly relations with Afghanistan, expressing their wish for good and exemplary relations between the neighbors. They demanded an economic corridor at the Afghanistan crossing. The PTI officially opposed this operation in a tribal jirga in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The central and provincial leadership of PTI were present on this occasion and speeches were made by various leaders, including head of the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e- Ain-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
The jirga approved a resolution addressing barriers to trade with Afghanistan and ongoing negotiations at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Another resolution opposing Operation Azm-e-Istehkam was presented demanding the matter be debated in the national and provincial assemblies, involving all stakeholders. Now the word “Illegal” denotes the announcement to ban the PTI has a role of the establishment. Who launched the “digital terrorism” against the military is known to all even if not accepted?
“A narrative is being built and a very strong lobby had a vested interest because of which it didn’t want the National Action Plan to succeed and this entity is receiving a lot of money to subvert the operation. The stakes in sabotaging this operation are a lot of money,” the DG said. After the conference ended, it was analyzed as: The military would launch this operation any way – either it is opposed; The military through government will get the PTI banned in any case because the DG used the word “illegal mafia.” It is a known fact the PTI opposed it; The JUIF along with the PTI be a looser in the future and be treated as part of the PTI and there looks no possibility the temperature of differences will get down. The stress and strain between the state institutions may further rise and the PTI may pay some more price in the near future.
Rauf Hassan’s arrested with PTI’s office equipment looks like a message that no matter what relief is given to the PTI or to what extent, the PTI has to be the prime target and pay its price. It also looks to have indicated the May 9 perpetrators, facilitators, executers and planners will not be tolerated even if courts grant them relief. It tells the Army in future will react and even gun down those attacking it in the future.
The DG’ talk highlights the military takes the courts responsible for PTI’s aggression and bravery. The whole of situation tells the government is against the courts, the military is against is against the courts and the courts are against to both of them. Both the military and the government are ready to crush the PTI and the courts want to save it. These differences and may not prolong more as they have to have an end. If this end is not compromised and based on flexibility, it will greatly impact Pakistan and its people soon.
This is a fact that both terrorism and terrorists cannot be pulled until they are crushed. In 2024 so far, a total of 22,409 intelligence-based operations have been conducted against terrorists and their facilitators, the DG said adding during the operations, out of the total 398 terrorists eliminated 31 were high-value targets. “A total of 137 security forces personnel embraced martyrdom during these operations,” he said. These soldiers are our soldiers and they are presenting lives for the sake of Pakistan and for the people of Pakistan regard less of the people’s political affiliations. Neither Maulana nor the PTI has any solution that can end the terrorism in Pakistan. The only way left is to crush it and educate the future builders of the country through character and words. Relationship with Afghanistan doesn’t look to be improved till Indian influence in Afghanistan is not curtailed. Now what happens next is awaited particularly after the PTI wants to inquire the rally incident through a judicial commission. The federal ministers said the PTI orchestrated the Bannu rally incident to malign the military. How PTI reacts is awaited.
(Senior journalist Rana Kashif has written this opinion article)
