ISLAMABAD: Civil and military authorities – investigating the May 9 attacks on military installations and war memorials – have concluded that it was a pre-planned plot and not PTI protests over Imran Khan’s arrest.
This correspondent had background discussions with both civilian and military officials on the matter. There is no ambiguity on either side about the existence of a conspiracy. However, PTI chief Imran Khan vehemently denied this and insisted that the mayhem on May 9 was carried out by infiltrator agencies, who were behind the violence to justify the crackdown on the PTI.
When asked if there was any direct evidence of Imran Khan’s involvement in the conspiracy, senior security officials said that everything will become clear once the investigation is completed. A source said it was all pre-planned.
That is why sources say that all the important authorities including the Prime Minister, Army Chief, Cabinet, Corps Commanders Conference, Caretaker Chief Minister and Police officers had said in their public statements that it was all pre-planned.
“Based on the incontrovertible evidence gathered so far, the armed forces have identified the planners, instigators, instigators of these attacks,” the ISPR press release after Monday’s Corps Commanders’ Conference clearly stated. They are well aware of those and the criminals.
The ISPR further said that the forum was briefed that a coordinated arson plan involving pictures of martyrs, desecration of memorials, burning of historical buildings and vandalism of military installations was aimed at discrediting the institution and discrediting it. Implemented to provoke a strong response.
According to a senior security agency official, the targets were decided before Imran Khan’s arrest. It is alleged that it was planned that in case of arrest of Imran Khan, Tehreek-e-Insaf would attack the targets. As part of the planning, the demonstrators were said to have been made to march to defense-related targets marked for attack.
When contacted, a senior PTI leader, on condition of anonymity, said it was just a reaction and no conspiracy. When asked why defense installations, buildings and symbols were attacked everywhere, he had no satisfactory answer. He said that this may have happened because the protesters thought that the Rangers who arrested Imran Khan were led by a general.
PTI leaders, however, seemed upset over how the events unfolded on May 9. He revealed that the PTI leaders, who have not been arrested so far, are reviewing the situation and discussing ways out of the situation. He insists that Tehreek-e-Insaf does not want a confrontation with the army. However, when asked if it was too late to make such a statement, he did not reply.
