Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, on Thursday categorically refuted media reports suggesting that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir made political remarks during his recent visit to Brussels.
“The army chief made no comment regarding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), nor did he speak about any apology,” Lt Gen Chaudhry told reporters, clarifying that Munir did not give any interview while abroad.
His statement came after senior journalist Sohail Warraich, in an August 16 column for Daily Jang, claimed to have spoken to the COAS during his Brussels stopover. Sohail Warraich wrote that Asim Munir, when asked about politics, remarked that “political reconciliation is possible only if there is a sincere apology.” The column did not specify who the comment was directed at.
The DG ISPR dismissed the account, calling it misleading. He stressed that “neither did the army chief make any political statement in Brussels, nor did he mention any apology,” adding that some individuals had distorted facts for personal publicity.
Turning to the May 9 riots, which erupted after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan, Lt Gen Chaudhry reiterated that those involved, including their facilitators and planners, would be held accountable. “May 9 is not just an issue of the Pakistan Army, but of the entire nation,” he said. “No individual is above the law.”
Reflecting on recent tensions with India, he said Pakistan had given a “strong response” to aggression, exposing New Delhi’s failed strategies. He also underscored the urgent need to fully implement the 2014 National Action Plan (NAP), noting that “only one of its 14 points has been implemented.”
“The army, police, and law enforcement agencies are filling governance gaps daily by sacrificing their blood,” he added, also highlighting challenges from illegal Afghan residents involved in crimes.