ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army on Thursday decried a social media campaign spreading allegations of protesters’ killings during a recent PTI demonstration in Islamabad, labelling it a “pre-planned, coordinated, and premeditated” propaganda effort aimed at sowing discord between the military and the public.
This marks the first formal reaction from the military since the protests in the federal capital on Nov 26, issued through a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) at the conclusion of the 84th Formation Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters.
The meeting, chaired by Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir and attended by corps commanders, principal staff officers, and all formation commanders of the Pakistan Army, also demanded swift action against those responsible for propagating these claims.
“Forum noted with concern the malicious propaganda done in the aftermath of the lawful deployment of the Army in the capital to secure key government buildings and provide safe and secure environment for the valued visiting delegations,” ISPR said, and alleged that this propaganda, aimed at creating divisions between the public and the armed forces, was being backed by “external players”.
