Toppling democracy, installing dictatorship, causing social unrest among core aims of May 9 attacks: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called the May 9 incidents a revolt against the state and its institutions and said the real objective of the attacks was to topple democracy, bury the constitution, and bring dictatorship in the country besides undermining the national unity to cause social unrest.

The prime minister, chairing a special meeting of the federal cabinet held at the Parliament House, said May 9 was a black day in Pakistan’s history when the rioters attacked the defence institutions and the monuments of martyrs and Ghazis.

“The evil plan of May 9 was not merely a conspiracy against Pakistan but also the state, Pakistan Army, and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir. But thanks to Allah Almighty that design was thwarted. However, the nation wants to know as why despite a year, the culprits were not yet punished,” he remarked.

He said holding the cabinet meeting at the Parliament House aimed to give a message of unity and express solidarity with the nation’s martyrs and heroes, the official news agency reported.

The prime minister viewed that the May 9 attacks were carried out to undermine that time PDM government’s efforts to stabilise the economy, impede normalisation of strained ties with friendly countries, and cover up the foreign funding, Toshakhana and 190-million-pound corruption scams, and ensure the appointments on key posts without merit.

Giving examples of the riots in the United Kingdom and United States of America, the prime minister said no country could tolerate such heinous crimes against the state institutions.

He said except May 9, the politicians in the country’s history, despite facing tough circumstances, played their role in pacifying the situation either through the slogan of “Pakistan Khappay” or tolerated the hardships without uttering a single word against Pakistan.

He said those behind the May 9 attacks had also hurled the allegations of “35 punctures” (a reference to the allegation of polls rigging) and made contradictory statements in cipher case, also undermining Pakistan’s ties with the United States which the incumbent government was trying to improve.

He said the nation had witnessed the May 9 riots and also those who orchestrated and executed the anti-state conspiracy, with some people also confessing the same in videos.

He said even today the anti-Pakistan propaganda was being carried out from abroad, and letters were written by some elements to destabilise the national economy.

He told the cabinet members that the government had already put the country’s economy on the course to stability and thanked the political parties for extending their support. He also expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for assuring his support to expedite the disposal of tax-related cases involving Rs2,700 billion.

Apprising the members of his recent Saudi visit, he called it the “most productive and useful” visit of his life.

Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar said the May 9 incidents were tragic and emphasised that the nation always needed to find a correction course.

He lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz for taking immediate action and overseeing the probe into the May 9 attacks.

The law minister presented before the cabinet a report of a committee formed by the caretaker government under the interim law minister Ahmed Irfan on the May 9 incident which clearly termed the PTI leadership responsible for the riots.

He said the PTI leadership called the no-confidence motion against its government a foreign conspiracy and the party leadership had also called for playing up the narrative.

The committee also suggested multiple actions like awareness among youth, creating national harmony and legislation on provincial and federal levels to ensure effective prosecution.

Minister for Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan said the freedom of expression and protest were people’s right but there was always a line for the country. He said the rioters of the Capitol Hill were convicted as no one could be given a free hand in the name of freedom of expression.

In his remarks, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Syed Naveed Qamar said the May 9 incidents showed the perpetrators’ animosity against the state.

However, he called for moving ahead of the condemnations by exposing the real culprits and exonerating the innocent.

Pakistan Muslim League-Zia leader Ejazul Haq said that during his 35-year political career, marking many ups and downs and agitations, no one ever fought against the country’s institutions.

“This was unfortunate and on the same day, I had called it a Black Day in the history. The perpetrators should be punished,” he said and called for uniting the whole nation on a minimum agenda for the betterment of Pakistan.