LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Members of the ruling alliance on Tuesday attacked PTI founder Imran Khan over what they saw as a confession that he had ordered his supporters to gather outside the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on May 9 last year in case he was arrested.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday called for strict action against the PTI, citing national interest and security, and accused former Prime Minister Imran Khan of orchestrating the May 9 riots.
“Strict action against this evil anarchist group, in accordance with the Constitution and the law, is a requirement of national security and national interests,” he said in a statement.
“The culprit of May 9 (Imran Khan) has confessed to having planned and organised the May 9 riots,”
Ms Sharif said adding that the PTI was not a party but an anarchist group whose aim was to harm the state through wrongdoing.
PTI goes on the defensive, says its founder was referring to ‘peaceful protests’
He said Imran Khan’s residence in Zaman Park in Lahore continued to serve as a “training headquarters for terrorists” where training was provided for “making firebombs and attacking the state”.
He also claimed that the violent riots of May 9, 2023, which broke out across the country after Khan was arrested in a corruption case, were “planned during the drama of four months of unrest.”
The prime minister said that during the unrest, more than 200 military installations were attacked, Air Force planes were set on fire, the house of the corps commander was attacked and monuments to martyrs were desecrated.
Ms Sharif also accused the PTI of conspiring to push Pakistan towards default by writing letters to the IMF, alienating friendly countries, defaming their leaders, making baseless allegations against CPEC and China, and even disrupting the Chinese president’s visit by staging a sit-in.
Information Minister Atta Tarar termed the party as “Tehreek-i-Intishaar” and said Imran Khan had finally confessed to his crime of “planning and facilitating” the May 9 tragedy, alleging that his family members were giving instructions outside the corps commander’s house in Lahore before the attack on the building.
PPP leader Senator Sherry Rehman also called on Khan to apologise to the entire nation.
The PPP senator said that Imran had always blamed state institutions for violence in peaceful protests, but the fact is that he (Imran) has always provoked his supporters to be violent on such occasions.
Speaking later to Geo News, he said his party knew what peaceful protests meant.
Meanwhile, Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari said the entire nation was aware of “digital terrorists” and their sponsors.
“The younger generation is being incited to go against the security institutions of the country through systematic planning. The children of the person who is plotting against the country are living a luxurious life in London. The youth of Pakistan should stay away from the agenda of this disturbing party,” he said in a statement.
He stressed that Imran Khan, currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail, and his party were unacceptable to Pakistan.
Defense of the PTI
The PTI was on the defensive, with members of Khan’s legal team insisting he was referring to peaceful protests, while other leaders flatly denied the party founder had said any such thing.
Khan’s lawyer, Salman Akram Raja, told reporters on Tuesday that his client had not admitted to any wrongdoing in relation to the events of May 9.
He said that according to Mr Khan’s position, the March 14 attacks at Zaman Park and the March 18 attacks at the court complex involved security personnel.
Mr Raja said that following these incidents, the party had decided that if there was any further interference, peaceful protests would take place at appropriate locations, including the Headquarters or other offices, without causing any damage.
Former National Assembly Speaker Assad Qaiser also claimed that Khan did not say what was reported in the media regarding his confessional statement.
Published in Dawn, July 24, 2024
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