Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday held the judiciary responsible for the delay in the case involving those responsible for the violence and riots of May 9, 2023 until its logical conclusion.
In a hard-hitting speech from London, the defense minister called incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan a “product of the establishment” and said: “The question of bringing to justice those responsible for the (mutilation) of May 9 was delayed because of the judicial power.
His remarks came a day after military courts sentenced 25 individuals involved in the May 9 attacks on state installations to two to 10 years in “rigorous prison” in the first phase.
“Urgent decisions were necessary in the May 9 issue,” added the minister.
Calling the jailed PTI founder the “mastermind” of the May 9 riots, the minister said, “May 9 was planned by a person who was himself a product of the establishment.”
“The individuals involved in the May 9 attacks were trained,” he said, adding that sensitive installations were attacked by the rioters.
At least 70 PTI leaders, including Khan, are accused of planning the May 9 events and inciting workers and their supporters to attack military and government installations after the ousted prime minister was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in 2023.
The violent protests were triggered almost across the country after the PTI founder’s arrest in the ₹190 million Al-Qadir Trust case.
During the protests, the miscreants targeted civilian and military installations, including the Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The army declared May 9 a “Black Day” and decided to try the protesters under the Army Law.
The PTI founder, however, accuses the “men of the agency” of arson and shooting in certain areas during the violent demonstrations of May 9.
In his speech today, the Defense Minister said military courts convicted 25 defendants based on evidence, adding that there were videos showing the convicts attacking military installations.
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.