‘Digital terrorism’ trying to create void between public, military, warns Pakistan's army chief

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan’s army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, Thursday warned that “inimical” forces and their abettors have unleashed “digital terrorism” and are trying hard to create division between armed forces and the people of Pakistan through peddling “lies, fake news and propaganda.”

However, the designs of all these forces will be defeated with the support of the nation, Munir said, while addressing army officers at corps headquarters in the northeastern city of Lahore, said a statement from the military.

His remarks referred to an ongoing social media campaign accusing the army of being involved in politics and maneuvering the February general elections.

It also coincided with the first anniversary of attacks on military installations during violent protests against the brief arrest of jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case in Islamabad on May 9 last year.

Social media, which was predominantly exploited by several political parties, notably Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to run their election campaigns, has long been facing bans and suspensions over the past few years.

Twitter’s rebranded identity X has been banned by the Pakistani government since Feb. 19 on the grounds of an “anti-state” campaign.

Munir further said that May 9 will “undoubtedly” remain a “black day in the history of Pakistan when deliberately indoctrinated and insidiously guided miscreants attacked the symbols of the state and national unity, disgracefully desecrating the Shuhada (martyrs) monuments.”

“Now the same plotters were brazenly and shamelessly trying to twist the narrative and implicate the state in this despicable endeavor,” Munir was cited as saying.

This mindset is precisely the reason why there can be no compromise or deal with the planners and architects of this dark chapter in the country’s history, the army chief went on to say, in a thinly veiled reference to the PTI leadership.

“Those gullible elements who did not understand the real motive behind this criminal enterprise and were used as cannon fodder for the political ambitions of the masterminds have already been accorded reasonable benefit of the doubt on the direction of Supreme Court of Pakistan,” he added, referring to the apex court’s verdict on the trial of May 9 suspects in military courts.

However, he said, the “real leaders who present themselves as victims now will be held accountable for their actions, particularly when there is irrefutable evidence of their involvement and complicity in organized violence and sabotage.”

The army accuses the PTI of being involved in May 9 violence. However, the PTI denies the charge.