May 9 rioters to be tried under military laws, PM Shehbaz vows
Pakistan
The premier tells the NA that no new law is being introduced for trial of attackers
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – After the National Assembly passed a resolution to try the May 9 perpetrators under the military and anti-terrorism laws, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday made it clear that no new law was being introduced.
He said the country won't survive if any leniency was shown to the perpetrators of the arsons on May 9 involving the desecration of the martyrs, monuments, and damaging the security installations.
Addressing a session of the National Assembly, PM Shehbaz claimed the incumbent army chief, General Asim Munir was transferred from the post of the ISI DG in 2019 as he highlighted the corruption of PTI chairman Imran Khan's wife.
"I say this with full responsibility that when COAS Syed Asim Munir was the ISI DG, he told Imran Khan that his wife was involved in corruption," the premier said, adding that was based on facts.
“The nation will not forget this heart-rending incident. We don’t have any personal vendetta. But those who desecrated the martyrs, Ghazis, and their monuments, and burnt Jinnah House … they will have to be tried under the law. And if any leniency is shown to them, the country will not survive,” he said addressing the National Assembly.
Sharif said the coalition parties had faced many ordeals but the May 9 incident was intolerable. “This is the nation’s trust and I will return it to them,” he remarked.
The prime minister thanked the House for adopting a resolution against May 9 riots and explained that the cases pertaining to the attack on civilian infrastructure would be tried under anti-terrorism law but those concerning the military installations would be heard by the military courts and that no special laws were being promulgated for the purpose.
PM Shehbaz added, "But obviously Imran got angry about it and he didn't like it. And the rest is history."
Read also: 9/5 attacks reflect 'anti-state' agenda, says PM Shehbaz
– Not aware of arrest warrants issued by NAB for Imran –
Speaking about the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)'s arrest warrant for Imran Khan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed, "I was not aware of the arrest warrant issued by the accountability watchdog for Imran Khan".
Recalling the vandalism of May 9, the premier said that the amount of destruction that happened in the country had never been seen before.
He recounted the PTI era, saying, "Due to bogus cases, the entire opposition was put against the wall. But not a single pot was broken."
– PM accuses Imran of destroying foreign relations –
Speaking about Mr Khan's foreign conspiracy narrative, PM Shehbaz said, "Imran lied, and planted the narrative of US conspiracy in people's minds".
"But today, phone calls are being made in the same country. Our foreign relations are destroyed," PM Shehbaz added.
