- May 9, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), ruled against any “compromise or deal with the planners and architects of this dark chapter in our history” on Thursday as the state marked the anniversary of the May 9 riots. Throughout the day, political figures also criticized the PTI for the violent events while holding press conferences and making comments vehemently denouncing them. Following the arrest of the former prime minister Imran Khan on May 9 of last year in connection with a £190 million bribery case, there was a great deal of violence and attacks on significant military installations. As a result, the state began a harsh crackdown against his party.
Although Imran was freed a few days later (he was later detained again in a different case), thousands of PTI employees and nearly all of the top leadership were apprehended; many of them are currently being prosecuted on grave accusations. May 9 would “undoubtedly remain a black day in the history of Pakistan when deliberately indoctrinated and insidiously guided miscreants attacked the symbols of the state and national unity, disgracefully desecrating the martyrs’ monuments,” COAS Munir said in a statement released today by the Inter-Services Public Relations. He explained that this was due to the schemers behind the incident, who were now “brazenly and shamelessly trying to twist the narrative and implicate the state in this despicable endeavor,” and that there could be “no compromise or deal with the planners and architects of this dark chapter in our history.”
That day’s “deplorable acts of criminally orchestrated violence,” according to Gen. Munir, gave the nation’s enemies a chance to make fun of the state and its citizens. “The Supreme Court of the United States has already granted a reasonable benefit of the doubt to those credulous individuals who were misled into believing that this criminal organization had a true purpose and were only tools for the masterminds’ political aspirations. He was cited in the statement as adding, “But the true leaders who now portray themselves as victims will be held accountable for their actions, especially when there is undeniable evidence of their involvement and complicity in organized violence and sabotage.”
The army chief reportedly assured officers and soldiers that disrespect for martyrs, their families, or the armed forces would not be tolerated. “The law of the land will bring those responsible for May 9 to justice. We cannot continue to be patient in the face of daily provocations in this regard that are made in flagrant violation of the Constitution. This should never be interpreted as weakness,” he declared. Honoring the soldiers for their “services to the nation and appreciated their professionalism,” COAS Munir emphasized that hostile actors and those who support them had “unleashed digital terrorism and are trying hard to create division between armed forces and people of Pakistan through peddling lies, fake news, and propaganda.” “The nation’s support will enable us to defeat the designs of all these forces,” he continued.
According to the army chief, every military soldier and officer prioritizes his or her duties and obligations over any other affiliations or preferences, and they continue to make “extreme sacrifices” daily. Later, he presided over the opening of the Jinnah Library at the Lahore Garrison, declaring, “By erecting this public library over the piles of ash and rubble created by the destructive forces, we, the constructive forces, have rekindled the memory of Quaid.” A day earlier, Imran declined to offer an apology for the rioting on May 9. The army chief made these comments. Following the £190 million corruption case court sessions at Adiala jail, he was addressing the media. In response to a question about his willingness to apologize for the violent protest on May 9, Imran had stated that he was in custody at the time and was not aware of the demonstrations.
The former premier had stated that it was during his appearance before Pakistan’s then-chief judge, Umar Ata Bandial that he learned about the protests. He then on, “I had already denounced those violent protests.” Imran had added that the PTI would not pursue talks if the establishment showed no interest in it. The former prime minister said that he was seeking talks for Pakistan’s benefit rather than to make a deal in exchange for favors.