ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi said on Thursday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan should openly condemn the May 9 incidents.
In an interview, the president – a close aide of the PTI chief – demanded action against the miscreants involved in the incidents.
The PTI leadership, including the party chairman, condemned the attacks, which also targeted the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi, and demanded a Supreme Court-led inquiry into the incidents.
Violent protests erupted after Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case, which left at least 10 people dead and many injured, forcing authorities to arrest thousands of PTI activists.
After supporters attacked military installations, the army said May 9, 2023 – the day chaos erupted in the country following Khan’s arrest – would go down in history as a “dark chapter”.
The army and the government alike have vowed to try the goons who attacked military installations under the Pakistan Army Act, the Official Secrets Act and other laws.
Human rights organizations and some in the government have opposed prosecuting civilians under the Army Act, but have agreed that perpetrators of hooliganism should be prosecuted and “due process” followed. Should.
In the interview, the president further said that during the trial, the human rights of the accused should be respected and they should not be tortured.
He said that those involved should be punished according to the law.
The President said that PTI Chairman did not oppose Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.
President Alvi said “Imran Khan asked me to tell General Bajwa to accept whoever he approves as the next chief”.
Khan has criticized the current leadership of the army and blamed a senior officer of the armed forces for his alleged involvement in the November 3, 2022 assassination attempt.
But at the same time, the PTI chief has also said that he will not interfere in the affairs of the institution when he comes back to power.
“I do not interfere in the affairs of the institution. I have said this many times,” he said.
