Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pakistan army chief order abuse video inquiry

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Oct 9, IRNA -- Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has ordered inquiry into a video showing a firing squad of uniformed Pakistani soldiers shooting dead young men who were blindfolded, the army said on Friday.

The 10-minute video, which had been posted on the social networking site, Facebook, last month, was thought to be filmed in Swat valley in the northwest Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province.

Pakistani military spokesman had earlier dismissed as fabricated the video after it was reported in the international media.

“Taking notice of a video footage showing cold blooded execution of civilians by personnel clad in Pakistan Army uniforms; General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, COAS (Chief Of the Army Staff), has ordered setting up of a board of inquiry to establish the true identity of uniformed personnel and the veracity of the video footage,” an army statement said.

The board will be headed by a Major General, a two star officer of Pakistan Army, who will be assisted by two / three senior officers with the experience of investigating into such incidents, it said.

“Necessary technical expertise will be made available to the board,” the statement said.

General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani referred back to his Command Directive on the issues of Human Rights and Extra Judicial Killings, and stated that such violations of his orders, if true, will not be tolerated.

He categorically stated that it is not expected of a professional army to engage in excesses against the people whom it is trying to guard against the scourge of terrorism.

“Expressing his determination to take strictest possible disciplinary action against the perpetrators, if identified to be soldiers of Pakistan Army, he termed the incident as unacceptable under any circumstances,” the statement said.

He emphasized that Rules of Engagement (ROE) are sacrosanct.

He, however, cautioned against reaching hasty conclusions about involvement of Pakistan Army soldiers.

He pointed out that in order to hide their identities, cause confusion and malign Pakistan Army; terrorists have previously been disguising themselves as Pakistan Army soldiers during a number of attacks including the one on General Headquarters in Rawalpindi

General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani also directed commanders at all levels to be vigilant and follow the Army policy of zero tolerance in such cases in true letter and spirit.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30009024