By Qamar Bashir

The focus of the national discourse, for better or worse, has shifted from the civilian leadership—PML (N), PPP, JUI, and most importantly, Imran Khan—to the army after the high-profile arrest of Lt. General (Retd.) Faiz Hameed and his accomplices. These arrests were related to charges outlined in a short but fully loaded press release by the ISPR, which stated that, in connection with the FGCM proceedings of Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Faiz Hameed, three retired officers are also in military custody for actions prejudicial to military discipline. Further investigations into certain retired officers and their accomplices for fomenting instability at the behest of, and in collusion with, vested political interests are ongoing.”

This press release opened up an entire Pandora’s box and unleashed a genie that engulfed the entire nation, reverberating around the globe. It immediately took center stage in the national discourse, dominating media discussions and shifting focus, which had previously revolved around the judiciary and PTI on one side, and the parliament and establishment government on the other. The high-profile arrest and its repercussions triggered a storm of rumors, hearsay, speculation, and the crafting of numerous scenarios by every analyst and commentator.

One analyst, in a moment of emotion, rushed to link the May 9 incident with the arrest, claiming that the PTI Chief had been instrumental in promoting and encouraging mutiny within the army by inciting junior officers to rise against the senior leadership. He demanded accountability for all serving and retired army officers, as well as the former PTI chairman, seemingly forgetting that the former chairman’s accountability had been initiated in August and is ongoing without any end in sight.

Another commentator argued that the allegations leveled against General Faiz and his accomplices carry no political weight, as it is not a crime for a retired army officer to meet or establish connections with any incarcerated political figure.

A third analyst painted an even more alarming scenario. He suggested that the entire plan was masterminded by Lt. General Hameed, who identified military targets around the country. According to this theory, he had cultivated serving officers of the armed forces manning these installations and planted his own trained people among the mobs that attacked them. The idea was to create chaos from both inside and outside, leading to the replacement of the army leadership loyal to the army chief and the establishment of a new order.

Politicians, in their individual capacities, are also trying to settle personal vendettas and advance their agendas. Some are attempting to link the entire issue of military indiscipline to former Army Chief General (Retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa, demanding his accountability above all else. They are also speculating, with no solid evidence, that since Gen. (Retd.) Bajwa was not invited to a recent dinner hosted by the army chief for retired officers, he may be next in line to face consequences.

Some politicians are taking this opportunity to argue that there has been accountability for army officers, civil servants, and politicians, and that now it is time to hold judges accountable, bringing to justice those who have violated their oaths and judicial codes of conduct.  Others are expressing their desire to invoke Article 6 against the PTI chairman for allegedly fomenting mutiny within the armed forces and calling for the PTI former chairman trial under the army courts.

Amongst these speculative and mostly unvalidated observations and imaginary scenarios, let us try to get the clarity of the army’s standpoint by decoding the ISPR’s Press Release. It used the acronym  “FGCM” which stands for “Field General Court Martial”. It is a type of military court used to try members of the armed forces who are accused of serious offenses. The Field General Court Martial is the highest level of court martial in the military justice system, typically dealing with grave charges such as mutiny, treason, desertion, or other severe breaches of military law. The proceedings are conducted by senior military officers, and the court has the authority to impose significant penalties, including imprisonment and even the death penalty, depending on the jurisdiction and the nature of the offense.

The Press Release used the phrase that “three retired officers are in military custody for actions “prejudicial to military discipline,” it means that these officers are being held by military authorities because they are suspected of engaging in activities or conduct that undermined or harmed the discipline, order, or integrity of the armed forces. Even though they are retired, these officers are subjected to military law if their actions are deemed serious enough to warrant it, especially if those actions took place while they were still in service or if the offenses are linked to military matters. Being in military custody suggests that they are being investigated or possibly facing legal proceedings within the military justice system for these alleged offenses.

The last para indicated said that, “Further investigations of certain retired officers and their accomplices for fomenting instability at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests are continuing”. This means that ongoing investigations are being conducted into the actions of certain retired military officers and their accomplices. These investigations focus on their alleged involvement in creating or promoting instability, such as disorder, unrest, or challenges to the established order.

The phrase “at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests” suggests that these retired officers and their accomplices are believed to have acted under the direction or influence of specific political groups or individuals who have a particular interest in causing instability for their own benefit. “Collusion” implies that these parties worked together, likely in a secretive or deceptive manner, to achieve this shared goal of destabilizing the situation.

Now that we have deciphered the press release to a large extent, let’s try to put it in proper perspective. The entire episode was triggered by the events of May 9. The army took action against many serving and retired officers soon after the incident. This fresh wave of arrests, coming nearly a year later, reflects the ongoing investigation. According to the press release, all individuals—whether civilian or military, retired or serving—who masterminded the events of May 9, along with those who aided in fomenting instability at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests, will eventually be arrested and subjected to punishment commensurate with the severity of their crimes.

By Qamar Bashir

Former Press Secretary to the President

Former Press Minister to the Embassy of Pakistan to France

Former MD, SRBC, CEO, ATV

Isha Shahzad

I am writing to express my opinion and deepest concern regarding the Internet Disruptions and Their Detrimental Impact on Pakistan’s Digital Infrastructure. The issue of recurring internet slowdowns and connectivity issues is related to the testing of a firewall to filter out obscene and unwanted content. However, this issue is being escalated because the internet slowdown is damaging the global reputation of Pakistan. It is tainting the reputation and clientele rate of online business setups and freelancers.

The Internet is the backbone of digital infrastructure and communication in this globalized digital era. The digital economy is a crucial factor in the GDP of Pakistan, contributing around $3.5 billion annually, and relies on hassle-free internet access. There are around 111 million internet users and 189 million active cellular connections in Pakistan. The recent internet shutdown and connectivity issues created a lot of obstacles for online businesses as they faced significant financial loss and damage to their reputation.

Freelancers who rely on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork will have a decrease in their client ratio because of connectivity issues. The notification of Fiverr regarding the unavailability of Pakistani freelancers on its platform for global users highlights the necessity of having a reliable internet connection. These internet and connectivity issues are very problematic as they pose a threat to the confidence of clients and drive the business away. If these issues persist, the IT sector and digital economy will face huge financial losses because it will impact IT exports and online startups. The orders and businesses will shift to countries that have stable and secure internet connections.

National security and cyber security concerns are undoubtedly important, but this approach caused a lot of damage to the digital economy and infrastructure of the country. The government should implement only targeted security measures to tackle the threats without putting the entire network at stake. Transparent online connectivity governance is a necessity to avoid any unnecessary shutdown or connectivity issues in the future because ensuring stable internet connectivity is vital for Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and innovation.

Isha Shahzad

Student of UMT, Lahore

By Qamar Bashir

The Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir, has identified three major issues—terrorism, digital terrorism, and the slow pace of accountability for the perpetrators of the May 9 riots—as highly detrimental to national security, safety, and the progress and development of Pakistan. To address these issues, he has been working aggressively on two fronts: kinetic and administrative actions on one hand, and an aggressive and effective public relations and public diplomacy offensive on the other. This combination is designed to bring these issues within tolerable ranges by leveraging both direct action and strategic communication to ensure national stability and unity.

General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Army Chief, has prioritized obliterating terrorism and its manifestations both within the country and in the region. In his speeches, he identified the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the primary source of terrorism in Pakistan, noting that the TTP, with over 6,000 hardcore fighters, frequently launches attacks from bases in Afghanistan. Between 2007 and 2018, TTP’s terrorism resulted in over 20,000 deaths. From 2018 to 2024, there were over 3,000 civilian casualties and more than 1,500 security personnel killed in terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations. Economically, terrorism has cost Pakistan billions of dollars, displaced millions, and necessitated extensive military operations that strained resources.

To counter the TTP threat, General Munir has adopted a multifaceted approach involving intelligence-based operations (IBOs) inside Afghanistan, tightening border security, repatriating illegal Afghan residents, and curbing smuggling.

He refers to the TTP as “Khariji,” likening them to the historical Khawarij, a group known for their extreme beliefs and violent rebellion in the early Islamic period. This label underscores the TTP’s radical ideology and violent opposition to the state, emphasizing the need for a strong, unified response. General Munir has intensified counter-terrorism operations within Pakistan, particularly in KP and Balochistan provinces, which are prime TTP targets. During his latest speech, he expressed his resolve to obliterate terrorism and eliminate terrorists decisively and thoroughly.

On the Public Relations and Public Diplomacy front, he has  engaged in diplomatic and public relations efforts. He addressed the Ulema and Mashaikh Conference to rally religious leaders against extremism. In his meeting with retired army officers, and officers at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, Abbottabad, he called upon the Afghan government to help Pakistan to completely and decisively eliminate the menace of terrorism from the region. Additionally, he has met with foreign diplomats to seek international cooperation against the TTP. During such interactions, he reminded Afghanistan of Pakistan’s sacrifices in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for over three decades and demanded that the Afghan interim government return the favor and help eliminate terrorists and their hideouts within Afghanistan.

The second most critical priority outlined by General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Army Chief, is curbing digital terrorism to restore the country’s progress and development. He has been particularly mindful of rampant anti-state, anti-government, and anti-army propaganda on social media, which, according to him, aims to create despondency, erode faith in the government, and sow discord between the military and the public.

To combat these threats, General Munir has been instrumental in strengthening key legal frameworks  including Defamation Ordinance, 2002, Official Secrets Act, 1923, Pakistan Army Act, 1952 and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016. Administratively, he has ensured regulating, slowing, and, when necessary, banned the social media platforms to curb the spread of harmful content. A firewall has been implemented to eliminate virulent anti-state propaganda, ensuring a more secure and controlled digital space.

On the Public Relations side General Syed Asim Munir, has launched an aggressive public relations and diplomacy campaign emphasizing the urgent need to curb digital terrorism. He highlighted in various speeches and public interactions that extremist groups are exploiting digital platforms to create despondency, undermine faith in the government’s ability to deliver, and foster despair and hopelessness among the populace. He pointed out that digital terrorism aims to sow hatred and drive a wedge between the army and the people of Pakistan. He also highlighted the role of foreign powers in orchestrating digital terrorism, using online platforms to undermine national security and stability. His comprehensive approach combines legal action, administrative measures, and strategic communication to effectively counter these digital threats and uphold national unity and security.

The Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir, is particularly mindful of the slow pace of Pakistan’s justice system. During his various speeches, he has highlighted this issue, emphasizing the need for timely justice. In a significant move, three senior officers, including a Lieutenant-General, were dismissed, and disciplinary proceedings were completed against three major generals and seven brigadiers for their failure to protect military installations during the May 9 protests. Recently the former ISI Chief and his three accomplices were arrested.  He assured that all individuals involved in the May 9 violence would be punished according to the law, reinforcing that there will be no compromise or deal with those responsible for this dark chapter in Pakistan’s history.

On the Public Relations front, he stressed the need to bring  planners, abettors, facilitators, and sympathizers of the May 9, 2023 riots to justice. In various speeches, including those at the Lahore Garrison and the Ulema and Mashaikh Conference, he emphasized the urgent need for the justice system to effectively deliver justice to those responsible for the violent attacks on military installations and public property. The Army Chief has been vocal about the deliberate indoctrination and organized violence that characterized the May 9 events, describing them as a dark chapter in Pakistan’s history. General Munir highlighted that the May 9 perpetrators aimed to create chaos, undermine national unity, and discredit state institutions, including the armed forces. He stressed that such acts provided an opportunity for Pakistan’s enemies to mock the nation and its state apparatus.

The combined and complementary strategy of intelligently and strategically integrating kinetic and administrative measures with aggressive public relations and public diplomacy tools has shown visible signs of effectiveness. This multifaceted approach is weakening the adversarial elements, marking a promising and positive development for the country.

By Qamar Bashir

Former Press Secretary to the President

Former Press Minister to the Embassy of Pakistan to France

Former MD, SRBC, CEO, ATV