Pakistan Army upset over "hurtful and derogatory" remarks on social media triggered after chopper crash

Islamabad: The Pakistan Army on Friday condemned the use of “hurtful and derogatory“ remarks on social media against the country’s powerful institution in the wake of a military helicopter crash that killed six officers.

A top Pakistani army general and five senior military officials were killed when their Mi-17 helicopter crashed due to bad weather while on a flood relief operation in troubled Balochistan province on Monday, the army said on Tuesday.

The six individuals on board included the Commander XII Corps Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali, who was supervising the flood relief operations in Balochistan province which has been badly hit by the torrential rains.

"While the whole nation stood by the institution in this difficult time, certain insensitive quarters resorted to hurtful and derogatory comments on social media which is unacceptable and highly condemnable," the army said.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, the social media campaign has "caused deep anguish and distress” among families of the deceased officers and rank and file of the armed forces.

A Baloch militant group claimed responsibility for the downing of the military chopper, but it was not confirmed by the independent sources. The army also rejected it.

However, the purported claim triggered an anti-army campaign on social media.