Daily Times

For the last many weeks, some Pakistanis are using social media to revive an old and already defeated malicious campaign of undermining the Pakistani military’s excellent image, which has emerged in the light of its outstanding achievements in the war on terror. This was realised after rendering sacrifices of many precious lives in the defence of Pakistan against the menace of terrorism, which was sponsored and supported by the enemies of Pakistan.

This campaign is continuing on the social media to create an impression that the Pakistan military interfered in the politics of the country right from the inception of Pakistan and it is still doing the same. This anti-military campaign has been started with the spreading of disinformation against the former president, Gen (Retd) Muhammad Ayub Khan (Late).

In the above context, it is being projected that the Quaid-e- Azam had issued orders for Ayub Khan to be superseded, thereby, implying that the military started its interference as early as during the lifetime of Quaid-e-Azam. Although it is very surprising to note that people started believing such stories, projected in social media, which lacked any evidence. In many cases, there is hardly any proof that can help corroborate the information. One such case is the current criticism of Ayub Khan on social media, an internationally well-reputed national leader, who had died 50 years ago, and whose leadership had brought tremendous economic progress to Pakistan.

Some unconfirmed stories, based on hearsay, being spread on the social media about Ayub Khan are:

Before his death, Quaid-e-Azam had reprimanded the then Brigadier Muhammad Ayub Khan.

That Ayub Khan’s military career was not particularly brilliant and he was promoted over several senior officers with distinguished careers and had become general through machination.

And Ayub Khan was very keen to interfere in Pakistani politics.

There is a need to identify reasons as to why at this time, Ayub Khan is being criticised by the country’s enemies and their cronies–the liberal class and a section of Pakistan’s media. This is mainly being done as a part of our enemy’s hateful anti-armed forces campaign, by criticising Ayub Khan, the first chief of the Pakistan Army. Pakistan’s military has become a battle-hardened and seasoned force after rooting out terrorism from the country with the help of Pakistani people, a rare example in the military history, which is not acceptable to Pakistan’s enemies.

Pakistan’s ill-wishers are also envious of the Pakistani military because it is much more respected and loved by the people of Pakistan as is evident through the fan pages created on social media as well as the way patriotic Pakistanis take on the anti-Pakistan and anti-army elements. The so-called Pakistani liberals are the least tolerant people, as can be observed from their behaviour on print, electronic and social media. They are even worse than the religious extremists, and the Islamic image of Pakistan military is neither acceptable to them nor their sponsors.

The terrorists, who kill our innocent people, are called by liberals, on foreign television channels, as “Mazahamti Group (Resistance Groups).”

Among such liberals, we see many on foreign media, especially Indian media, talking against the ISI and Pakistani military. It is also unfortunate that those terrorists, who kill our innocent people, are called by these liberals on foreign television channels as “Mazahamti Group (Resistance Groups).”

Many NGOs, Human Right Commissions, and foreign intelligence agencies are a part of this military-bashing campaign.

In a recent report, Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) blamed that the government, military and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) of Pakistan are involved in the elimination of Balochs by adopting tactics of disappearances and extra-judicial killings under the canopy of the National Action Plan (NAP). For the propaganda campaign against Pakistan’s security forces, these external elements seem to have hired the services of some Pakistanis also.

These people got together regularly during the last three years in a conference organised in London, under the sponsorship of South Asians against Terrorism & for Human Rights (SAATH). This conference is co-hosted by a US-based activist, Dr Mohammad Taqi, and Pakistan’s former ambassador, Hussain Haqqani. ANP leaders, Bushra Gohar, Afrasiab Khattak, MQM-London leader, Wasay Jalil, ex-diplomats, Wajid Shamsul Hassan, and academicians, Rashed Rehman, Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, Marvi Sermad and Gul Bukhari also attended the conference.

Disregarding the blaming of the Pakistan military for its alleged interference in politics, the fact remains that it stands as a disciplined force with a truly national outlook based on the regimental spirit. An educated, hardened and patriotic Islamic military with both conventional and unconventional capabilities is much envied by its enemies, who keep struggling to weaken this great institution, just to weaken Pakistan. But, Pakistan’s enemies must know that the Pakistani nation firmly stands behind its military, which is fully supporting the democratic progress of Pakistan.

The writer is a former Research Fellow of Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Islamabad and Senior Research Fellow of Strategic Vision Institute (SVI), Islamabad