Did COAS General Asim Munir address ulema conference behind the bullet proof glass?
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In a recent development, certain social media accounts purportedly associated with a political party critical of the military have alleged that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir stood behind bulletproof glass during his meeting with Islamic scholars at the General Headquarters (GHQ).
Contrary to these claims, an examination of the image reveals no evidence of any glass barrier, bulletproof or otherwise, in front of COAS General Asim Munir. It has been clarified that there is a glass shelf resembling a table top in front of him.
The All Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) has refuted the existence of any glass barrier, with PUC Chief Maulana Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi issuing a press release and a video statement. The PUC statement highlights that, during the Jummah prayer break and at the conclusion of the meeting, General Munir individually met with the attending scholars to discuss mutual interests.
Expressing dismay, Maulana Ashrafi condemned the false claims circulating on social media, emphasizing that it is tragic when such misinformation is propagated domestically. He noted that if a defamatory campaign were orchestrated from outside Pakistan, it might have been more understandable, but the internal dissemination of such lies is particularly disheartening.
Providing context to the situation, on Friday, COAS General Syed Asim Munir convened a meeting with prominent Islamic scholars from various schools of thought at GHQ in Rawalpindi. During the meeting, the COAS staunchly conveyed the unacceptability of the use of force by any non-state entity, while the Islamic scholars collectively condemned extremism, terrorism, and sectarianism. They pledged ongoing support for the efforts of state and security forces to foster tolerance, peace, and stability in the country.
However, in the aftermath of this significant gathering, certain social media accounts began asserting that General Munir was positioned behind bulletproof glass. A widely shared photograph, capturing the COAS saluting the attendees, fueled these claims on various social media platforms.
