RAWALPINDI: Officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces arrested under the Army and Air Force Acts wanted to capture power, establish a government of their own and subvert the discipline and loyalty of members of the Armed Forces, a Press release of the Ministry of Defence issued here today [May 12], said.

“On 30th March last, a Press Note, issued by the Ministry of Defence, stated that some arrests had been made in the Armed Forces. Since then some additional arrests of certain Army and Air Force officers have been made. The names of these officers have been given in Press Notes issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate.

“Although the investigation is still incomplete, in order to obviate unwarranted speculations, it is considered advisable to apprise the public of some facts which appear from the evidence so far. … The plan … was to arrest simultaneously by use of force the top Government executives and all the Generals to deprive the country of its top direction, and the Armed Forces of their command structure … to preclude any possible reaction or counter-measures in the crisis and confusion that would ensue. The members would then proceed to capture power and establish a government of their own.”­— News agencies

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2023