News Analysis |
Fake News
In several video clips circulating on social media, the members of the PTM can be seen attacking the check post.
https://twitter.com/ZaidZamanHamid/status/1132636012876828672
Just hours after the attack, PTM started an anti-army propaganda on social media and demanded justice. However, analysts immediately found that pictures posted by anti-army elements were old and did not belong to the present incident.
https://twitter.com/ZaidZamanHamid/status/1132565533960941574
The anti-army narrative was further exposed when an Afghanistan based news agency used the same pictures and claimed that around 45 members of the PTM had been injured. Later on, the news agency had to apologize.
Correction, Sorry for publishing old photo,
45 protestor were wounded as Pakistani security forces fired on #PTM protestors in Miranshah of #Waziristan. pic.twitter.com/97RmUWKXEg— Pajhwok Afghan News (@pajhwok) May 26, 2019
PTM leaders can be seen in videos threatening and challenging the army.
https://twitter.com/AsharJawad/status/1132562482185342977
DG ISPR won’t have it
Pakistan army has conveyed it to the PTM and its leaders that it shall never be allowed to undo whatever has been achieved after a constant struggle. Major General Asif Ghafoor has clearly said that nobody shall be allowed to undo the gains achieved in war against terror.
NWTD incident. Innocent PTM supporters / workers need care. Only few are inciting and using them against state institutions for vested agenda. No one will be allowed to undo the gains of decades long national struggle & sacrifices especially of brave Pakistani tribals.
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) May 26, 2019
Recently, the DG ISPR has declared that the “time is up” for PTM. General Ghafoor talked at length about the PTM, its demands and links with anti-Pakistan forces in India and Afghanistan. He advised PTM to remain within their constitutionally determined limits and must not challenge the writ of the state. “RAW and NDS are funding the PTM. Is it not true?” asked DG ISPR.
Maryam and Bilawal Chime in for Personal Gains?
Emerging leaders from PML-N, Maryam Nawaz, daughter of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and PPP, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of former President Asif Ali Zardari, have slammed the security forces for using violence against the attackers. Maryam Nawaz said that “every Pakistani citizen’s life is precious and his blood sacred. If blood is spilled, the facts must be revealed to the nation. Love, peace, and understanding are far more powerful than weapons. Have we not already paid a very heavy price for crushing protests and stifling voices? May God have mercy on Pakistan,” she wrote in the first of three tweets.
پاکستان اندرونی طور پر کشیدگی کا متحمل نہیں ہوسکتا ۔
دونوں طرف اگر پاکستان کے بیٹے ہیں تو سیاسی ،صحافتی حلقوں سمیت ریاست کے تمام اداروں کو ذمہ دارانہ کردار ادا کرنا ہوگا ورنہ ایک بار پھر پاکستان کو ناقابلِ تلافی نقصان پہنچ سکتا ہے۔ https://t.co/az2BRHqQMR— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 26, 2019
Bilawal, who was apparently upset to hear about the arrest of Ali Wazir, commented: “I’m sorry, what? How can Mohsin Dawar attack a check post? I don’t think an elected representative can conduct such an attack. And, if violence has taken place, we surely condemn it. But, violence should also not take place against peaceful citizens and political workers, whose right it is to hold a peaceful protest. I will find out the facts.”
PTM leadership should not mislead their innocent supporters and must nor continue this war against the armed forces of Pakistan. It is in the best interest of Pakistan, its people, and people living in the tribal areas.
It is believed that Maryam and Bilawal are developing and selling out an anti-establishment narrative because of the ongoing accountability process against the Sharif and Zardari families. Therefore, no opportunity of maligning the armed forces is wasted by these leaders.
Experts’ Opinion: A Global Game or a Regional Agenda?
Experts and political commentators have reservations over what happened in North Waziristan, a place cleared by Pakistan army after rigorous and challenging operations since 2014. Professor Dr. Hassan Askari states; “it is important to understand the narratives of India, Afghanistan, and PTM against the armed forces of Pakistan are overlapping. Why is it so?” Dr. Askari also pointed out that the ongoing so-called rights movements need to be understood…
Dr, Moeed Pirzada, prominent political commentator, also tweeted and shared an opinion piece he wrote for the Global Village Space Magazine a year ago.
One year ago, I had written a detailed analysis to explain PTM's real agenda, its funding, support by international media & think tanks, history of old ideas and the new international script behind it. Now is the time to carefully read this https://t.co/7SsJznWVPh via @@GVS_News
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) May 26, 2019
He noted; “we know that ‘Spring Revolutions’ originate and evolve less on ground and more on media and cyberspace and sudden interest of publications from New York Times, Washington Post, Foreign Policy to Asia Times Online and many many others points towards systematic efforts to create a “narrative”.
BBC Pashto, VOA, Deeva and France 24, all have been overactive – and all are state funded broadcasters. This is being reinforced by the plethora of newer western web sites that are all using different words but more or less the same substance, a consistent message moving from different directions to create and reinforce a mental reality. This is further reinforced by teams of activists connected with the NGO’s and international media inside Pakistan.”
Read more: PTM Funding: The Role of RAW-NDS, Wealthy FATA Diaspora in the…
Experts believe that the PTM leadership should not mislead their innocent supporters and must nor continue this war against the armed forces of Pakistan. It is in the best interest of Pakistan, its people, and people living in the tribal areas.