Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Monday said that not enough is being done under the law against “digital terrorism”, which allows fake news and propaganda to spread in the country.
An army spokesman told a press conference in Rawalpindi that the first line of defense against “digital terrorism” is the country’s laws.
“It is the law of the land to control and curb digital terrorism [but] unfortunately you can see that lies, propaganda – especially on social media – fake news and fake images continue to spread while confusion is created in the public mind,” he said.
“But the law against [digital terrorism] is not chosen as it should be.”
On the other hand, he said, the Pakistan Army is taking the matter very seriously.
“Therefore, whoever – whether in Pakistan or abroad and irrespective of their status – is caught spreading propaganda against the Pakistan Army, creating a vacuum between the army and the people, or is found involved in spreading fake news, the army will take necessary legal action against him steps and there is a whole process for it,” he explained.
When asked about reports of ongoing talks with a certain political party and the army’s stance on the May 9 riots, DG ISPR replied that the army’s “very clear” stance was already expressed during the press conference it held on May 7, 2023.
“There has been no change in this [attitude] either, and there will be no change,” he claimed.
BYC “representative of terrorist organizations, criminal mafias”
Meanwhile, a military spokesman strongly condemned the Baloch Yakjehti Committee rights movement and its “so-called leadership” as “agents of terrorist organizations and criminal mafias and nothing more.”
He alleged that the “proxy” was tasked with defaming and spreading propaganda against law enforcement agencies taking action against smugglers, criminals and the “illegal spectrum” as well as making development projects in the province controversial.
“The method of action is to rally a crowd through foreign funding and foreign posturing, convince innocent citizens around that crowd, challenge state regulations… and feign innocence when the state responds.”
He described the Baloch National Gathering as a “drama” that was concocted in the last few days in Gwadar.
A military spokesman claimed protesters blocked roads, threw stones at pilgrims, burned tires and attacked the Border Guard, claiming one soldier was tortured by the mob.
“This representative… was revealed under Baloch Raji Muchi,” he said.
Security forces conducted 23,622 intelligence operations in 2924
Gen Chaudhry also briefed the nation about the security situation in the country, the effective counter-terrorism measures and the professional activities of the Pakistan Army, especially the anti-terrorist operations carried out by the Pakistan Security Forces this year.
“Security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have conducted 23,622 small and large intelligence operations in the country,” DG ISPR said. “Out of the total, 2,045 operations have been performed in the last 15 days.”
He added that “24 terrorists” were eliminated during the operations conducted in the last 15 days.
“It is important to mention that Pakistan’s army, intelligence services, police and other law enforcement agencies are conducting more than a hundred operations a day to fight terrorism,” he said.
Talking about the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), he said the Pakistan government had recently announced the group as “Fitna al-Khawarij”.
“From now on, we will use the term Fitna al-Khawarij to refer to the TTP, while all terrorists associated with the group will be labeled as khariji (outcasts),” he said.
“It is because they are a malicious group; it is neither an ideology nor has anything to do with Islam or Pakistan,” he stated.
He explained that in the first seven months of 2024, 139 soldiers of Pakistan’s security forces had received martyrdom.
“The entire nation pays tribute to the brave martyrs and their families,” he said.
“This shows that Pakistan’s security forces, law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies are completely focused on ensuring the certainty and continued security of the country’s internal and border security.”
He further said that Pakistan’s fight against terrorism will continue till the last terrorist is eliminated.
Social projects
Apart from counter-terrorism and security operations, the security forces, especially the Pakistan Army, have actively engaged in socio-economic projects, DG ISPR said.
“[The army has been involved in] many social projects, including those related to education, health, social welfare and development, economic self-sufficiency and other collaborative projects between the army, the federation and the provincial government,” Lt.-Gen. Chaudhry said.
He added that the Pakistan Army has particularly targeted the backward areas of KP and Balochistan along with Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other areas.
