Ex-COAS General (retd) Aslam Beg denies link with fake social media post

• ISPR says audio clip attributed to ex-COAS Gen (retd) Aslam Beg on social media is part of propaganda against state institutions.
• Gen Beg declares Pakistan Army his "pride and identity".
• Says propaganda against army is against decency and ethics.

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan's former army chief General (retd) Mirza Aslam Beg has denied affiliation with a social media message being falsely attributed to him, terming it fake, The News reported.

In a hard-hitting audio message, Gen Aslam Beg said the campaign being run against him and the current army leadership is part of the smear campaign against state institutions.

Declaring Pakistan Army his "pride and identity", the former chief of army staff (COAS) said that each and every officer and soldier of the armed forces deserves his unqualified respect.

Beg dubbed the propaganda against the army as against decency and ethics and ended his message, saying as long as he lives, he would continue to speak in support of the Pakistan Army.

Meanwhile, Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR) also issued a brief statement to reject the audio clip circulating on social media.

"The audio clip attributed to ex COAS General Mirza Aslam Beg (retired) being circulated on social media is fake. It is part of a disinformation and propaganda campaign to target state institutions," the military's media wing stated.

Earlier, Maj-Gen (retd) Ejaz Awan and Lieut-Gen (retd) Haroon Aslam had also rejected messages under circulation in social media attributed to them.