At the 83rd Formation Commanders’ Conference, chaired by Army Chief General Asim Munir, participants reaffirmed that without immediate and transparent judicial and legal action against the perpetrators of May 9, the country will always remain hostage to such conspiratorial elements.
The Formation Commanders’ Conference, held on Thursday, was attended by corps commanders, principal staff officers, and all formation commanders of the Pakistan Army.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the formation commanders were briefed on the geostrategic situation, emerging challenges to national security, and the Pakistan Army’s strategy to counter multi-domain threats.
The forum expressed serious concerns over continuous violations from across the Afghan border and the planning of terrorism using Afghan territory. According to the statement, participants said, “The ongoing digital terrorism against state institutions, especially the Pakistan Armed Forces, is being carried out with the help of external facilitators to achieve nefarious political objectives.
The aim is to create despair among the Pakistani nation and to drive a wedge between national institutions, especially the Pakistan Armed Forces, and the public through lies and propaganda.”
The participants reaffirmed that “In the broader national interest, it is essential to bring the planners, perpetrators, instigators, and facilitators of May 9 to justice.”
“Without immediate and transparent judicial and legal action against the perpetrators of May 9, the country will always remain hostage to such conspiratorial elements.”
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On the same day, a district and sessions court in Islamabad acquitted PTI founder Imran Khan in two cases related to the May 9 riots. Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabbir approved the petition challenging the cases lodged at Shehzad Town police station, citing insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution.
Previously, on May 15, Khan was acquitted in two other cases related to the May 9 vandalism by Judicial Magistrate Sahib Bilal, also due to lack of evidence. These cases were filed at Khanna Police Station.
Imran Khan, currently held in Adiala jail, and several PTI leaders face various allegations connected to the violence following his May 9 arrest. The riots erupted during protests by PTI workers, resulting in deaths, injuries, and significant damage to public and private property. The military has termed May 9 as “Black Day” and plans to try the protesters under the Army Act.