Pakistan: After 4 days of violence, Army chief Munir says “No Martial Law”
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Amid reports quoting a US diplomat that the Pakistani Army is facing mutiny in the aftermath of the widespread violence following former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “unlawful” arrest this week, Army chief General Asim Munir ruled out imposition of a Martial Law in his unstable South Asian country already facing financial default and heading towards a civil war and collapse.
“There is no question of imposing Martial Law,” the Pakistan Army chief was quoted as saying in media reports.
The Army remains Pakistan’s most powerful institution, having ruled it directly for close to half its 75-year history through three coups.
General Munir stressed that the Army’s unity is unwavering and will persist, serving as a pillar of stability. “We believe in democracy!”
Pakistan, already facing the highest-ever inflation and the threat of a default, is plagued with unprecedented political turmoil, terror attacks on its Afghanistan borders, starvation of millions, and a host of crises, capped by four days of violence and arson this week.
General Munir was quoted as saying “No Martial Law” in the remarks of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry: “There is no question of imposing martial law in the country,” he told Geo News, adding that Army chief General Asim Munir and the entire military leadership along with him believe in democracy.
General Chaudhry stressed that the Army’s unity is unwavering and will persist, serving as a pillar of stability and security for the nation.
He also rejected social media rumors about resignations by top Army officers or anyone disobeying the military discipline.
“No one in the Army has resigned and no one has disobeyed any order,” the military spokesman said late on Friday.
He also rejected the impression of division within the army in the wake of attacks on military facilities during protests following the arrest of Imran Khan. “Despite the internal and external propaganda, the Army is united and will remain,” he said.
General Chaudhry said the Army is united despite internal miscreants and external enemies.
“The dream of dividing the Pakistan Army will remain a dream, the Army is united under the leadership of Army Chief General Asim Munir and will remain united.”
He called upon the public and media to rely on verified information from official sources rather than giving credence to unfounded speculation.
The Army has come under scanner after showing no response when the rioters ransacked the residence of Corps Commander Lahore after former PM Imran Khan was arrested by paramilitary Pakistan Rangers from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises amid high drama on Tuesday.
With the IHC giving Khan bail until May 17 in all court cases, the unrest in the country came to a halt for now. The IHC provided blanket relief to Khan and barred authorities from arresting the PTI chief in any case until Monday morning.
Khan has been highly critical of the alleged role of the establishment, especially that of former Army chief General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa, in bringing down his government in April 2022. Recently, he trained his guns at Bajwa’s successor, General Munir, claiming the new Army chief plotted his assassination twice.
Before his retirement, Gen. Bajwa said the Pakistan Army will remain apolitical.
