Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry has said the law takes its own course if a person from the Pakistan Army “works for personal gain or promotes a specific agenda”.
He made these comments in light of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid arrest by the army and inquiry over allegations of land grabbing and snatching valuables from the owner of a private housing society.
He added that a high-level court inquiry into the Top City case involving Gen (retd) Faiz was initiated in April 2024 following the filing of a petition against him.
The military spokesperson reiterated that no one is above the law and that individuals facing court-martial have the right to present evidence and appeal. He also emphasized that the army’s accountability system is based on solid evidence, not mere allegations.
Neutrality in Political Matters Lt Gen Chaudhry stressed that the Pakistan Army is a national institution with no political agenda and that it remains neutral in political affairs. “Pakistan is neither against nor in favour of any political party,” he said, affirming that national security remains the top priority, with no room for compromise.
Anti-Terrorism Operations Addressing the country’s security situation, Lt Gen Chaudhry highlighted the army and law enforcement agencies’ (LEAs) extensive anti-terrorism efforts. He revealed that security forces conducted 32,173 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the first eight months of 2024, with 4,021 carried out in the last month alone. As a result, at least 90 terrorists were neutralized in the past 30 days.
In addition, the army has successfully cleared 46,000 square kilometers from terrorist control, with Lt Gen Chaudhry declaring, “There is no area where terrorists are active.” The army and LEAs continue to conduct approximately 130 IBOs daily across the country to dismantle terrorist networks.
Martyrs and Counter-Terrorism Sacrifices Lt Gen Chaudhry also acknowledged the sacrifices made by the Pakistan Army in the fight against terrorism. “In the past eight months, 193 officers and soldiers have embraced martyrdom defending the motherland,” he noted.
Balochistan and National Security Turning to the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Balochistan, the DG ISPR condemned the militants behind the violence, stating that they will be dealt with “an iron hand.” He called for bolstering the country’s criminal justice system to enhance the fight against terrorism.
Lt Gen Chaudhry also rejected any suggestion of no-go areas in the country and dismissed attempts to create discord between Pakistan and Afghanistan, emphasizing that those trying to divide the two nations are “living in an imaginary world.”
