ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and other top military officers expressed concern over the spread of “propaganda and disinformation” against the armed forces, stating that those responsible must be brought to justice.
Over the past couple of years, social media campaigns against the army have escalated, reflecting broader tensions within the country’s political and social fabric. The government, often in tandem with the military, has responded with stringent measures aimed at controlling the narrative and stifling dissent.
These measures have led to numerous arrests and legal actions against journalists and social media users accused of spreading “negative propaganda” about the military and the state, resulting in restricted internet access and bans on platforms like X.
The COAS and high-ranking officers revisited these concerns during the 84th Formation Commanders Conference at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the military’s media wing said.
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the participants were briefed on the current internal and external security environment and reviewed the Army’s operational readiness to address evolving threats.
High-ranking officials expressed concern about propaganda spread following the deployment of military personnel in Islamabad to secure key government buildings and provide a safe environment for visiting foreign delegations.
“This pre-planned coordinated and premeditated propaganda reflects the continuity of a sinister design by certain political elements as an attempt to drive a wedge between the public & Armed Forces and institutions of Pakistan,” the statement read.
“This futile attempt, fuelled and abetted by external players, will never be successful,” the statement added.
According to the ISPR, the forum emphasised the need for the federal government to enact stringent laws and regulations to “check unfettered and unethical use of freedom of expression to spew venom, lies and sow the seeds of polarisation”.
“Those spreading fake news for vested political/financial interests need to be identified and brought to justice,” the statement read.The two-day forum lauded the martyrs of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies and citizens of Pakistan who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s security and sovereignty.
The forum also paid tribute to law enforcement personnel who embraced martyrdom during the recent violent protests in Islamabad.
