Lately, widespread campaigns were initiated on social media platforms, especially X (Former Twitter), to boycott Pakistan military-run businesses. This drive was launched by influencers, journalists, and bloggers active on social media. The call was made to “resist the army not with weapons” but through a “commercial boycott.”
Although this movement was started on social media platforms yet it managed to attract significant attention both inside and outside the country.
While this campaign supported a specific segment and sector of the country, it also inadvertently compelled violent militant factions to follow suit.
On December 05 2024, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, released a detailed statement through its media outlet, “Umar Media.” The statement adopted a similar approach but with a more violent manifestation. According to the statement, which was widely propagated on various social media accounts, the TTP decided to target military-run businesses operating inside the country, in addition to security forces.
Furthermore, it called for attacks on individuals working in these organizations and platforms, whether they were army personnel or civilians. The targeted entities included NLC, FWO, FFC, POF, and DHA.
The statement also issued an ultimatum to all civilians working in these institutions or holding shares in them, demanding they resign within three months and seek alternative employment.
According to reports, there are around 50 commercial entities run by the armed forces in Pakistan. Some of them include:
– Two stud farms in Pakpattan and Okara
– Army Welfare Sugar Mills, Badin
– Askari Project (shoes and woollen goods), Lahore
– Army Welfare Mess and Blue Lagoon Restaurant, Rawalpindi
– Real estate ventures, including three small housing schemes in Lahore, Badaber, and Sangjani
– Askari General Insurance Co Ltd, Rawalpindi
– Askari Aviation Services, Rawalpindi
– MAL Pakistan Ltd, Karachi
– Askari Guards (Pvt) Ltd, headquartered in Rawalpindi
– Askari Fuels (CNG), headquartered in Rawalpindi
– Askari Seeds, Okara
– Askari Enterprises, Rawalpindi
– Fauji Security Services (acquired from Fauji Foundation), headquartered in Rawalpindi
– Askari Apparel, Lahore
– Askari Lagoon, Faisalabad [1]
According to estimates, there are approximately 548 branches of Askari Bank, operated by the Pakistan Army, across the country.
Therefore, taking stock of all the businesses and entities run by the armed forces, it is projected that around 100,000 to 150,000 employees work under these platforms.
Given the significant number of people employed in urban and rural areas in army-run entities, it would be a daunting challenge for individuals and the armed forces to transition to alternative jobs if such threats were acted upon.
This situation highlights that whenever anti-state or anti-institution rhetoric and discourse are propagated, it is only the violent factions of society that stand to benefit. Such actions leave others with little to no advantage. This perpetual process of creating gaps and voids, subsequently filled by nefarious groups, will only lead to greater discontent and disharmony within institutions and the state as a whole.
[1] https://www.dawn.com/news/1272211
