PM laments delay in legal proceedings and sentencing of accused allegedly involved in attacks, vandalism       Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seen in this undated photo. — PID/File

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir said on Thursday May 9 will undoubtedly remain a black day in the history of Pakistan. The indoctrinated and insidiously guided miscreants attacked the symbols of the state and national unity, disgracefully desecrating the Shuhada monuments, he added.

The COAS deplored that now the plotters of the incidents were brazenly and shamelessly trying to twist the narrative and implicate the state in this despicable endeavour. “This mindset is precisely the reason why there can be no compromise or deal with planners and architects of this dark chapter in our history,” he warned.

Gen Munir underscored that inimical forces and their abettors have unleashed digital terrorism and are trying hard to create division between the armed forces and the people of Pakistan through lies, fake news and propaganda. “However, the designs of all these forces will be defeated with the support of the nation,” he said.

The COAS visited the Lahore Garrison on Thursday and laid a wreath at the martyrs’ monument and paid solemn tribute to the Shuhada who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. He maintained that the real leaders of miscreants, who present themselves as victims now, will be held accountable for their actions, particularly when there is irrefutable evidence of their involvement and complicity in organised violence and sabotage.

The COAS was given a detailed briefing on the operational preparedness of the formation. Addressing the garrison officers and soldiers at the corps headquarters, the COAS lauded troops for their services to the nation and appreciated their professionalism. He said due to deplorable acts of criminally orchestrated violence, enemies of Pakistan were provided the opportunity to mock the state and the nation.

General Asim Munir asserted that every soldier and officer of the Pakistan Army puts his duties and responsibilities first, regardless of any other affiliations or preferences and continues to render extreme sacrifices on daily basis. He said those gullible elements who did not understand the real motive behind this criminal enterprise and were used as cannon fodder for the political ambitions of the masterminds had already been accorded reasonable benefit of the doubt on the direction of Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The COAS reassured the officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army that no one would be allowed to disrespect Shuhada, their families or the institution. Planners, abettors, facilitators and culprits of May 9 would be brought to justice according to the law of the land and “our patience not to respond to daily provocations in this regard made in brazen violation of the Constitution has limits and it must never be misconstrued as weakness”.

Later, the COAS, while inaugurating the Jinnah Library at Lahore Garrison, stated that “We, being the constructive forces, have rekindled the memory of Quaid by building this public library over the piles of ash and rubble, created by the destructive forces”. Earlier on arrival, the COAS was received by the commander Lahore Corps.

Separately, the armed forces, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and services chiefs maintained that there could neither be any compromise with the planners, facilitators and executors of tragedy nor they would be allowed to hoodwink the law of the land. “Bringing the real culprits of May 9 to justice is paramount to ensure that in future, no one dares to desecrate the memories of our heroes and the symbols of our unity through such an unwarranted conduct,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The statement said that on one of the darkest days in national history, politically motivated and brainwashed miscreants, in an act of rebellion, deliberately resorted to violence against state institutions and vandalised sacred symbols of the state and the sites belonging to national heritage. The ISPR said it was a futile attempt to bring about a misplaced and short-sighted revolution in the country. “By displaying utmost restraint during this deliberate and brazenly orchestrated violence, the Pakistan armed forces thwarted the insidious conspiracy by the planners, facilitators and executors, who wanted to destabilise Pakistan by inciting confrontation between the people and the armed forces,” the ISPR added.

Failing to undermine national harmony and stability, the planners, facilitators and executors of the conspiracy embarked upon a sinister campaign of hate against the armed forces and the state with an intent to twist the narrative to their advantage and shift the blame on the state institutions. The armed forces renewed their resolve to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan and defeat the nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan, both external and internal. “Our Shuhada and their families are pride of Pakistan,” added the statement. “Today, let’s join hands to strongly denounce the conspiracies to weaken Pakistan and work together for prosperity and stability of our beloved country,” the ISPR statement added.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed May 9 incidents a revolt against the state and its institutions, adding that the real objective of the onslaught was to topple democracy, bury the Constitution, and bring dictatorship in the country besides undermining the national unity to cause social unrest.

Chairing a special meeting of the federal cabinet at the Parliament House, he 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 sinister plan of May 9 was not just a conspiracy against Pakistan but also the state, Pakistan Army and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, he said. “But thanks to Allah Almighty that evil designs were thwarted. However, the nation wants to know as to why the culprits have not been punished despite passage of a year,” he added. The premier reiterated that the culprits would not go unpunished and there would be no pardon for the plotters and executors of the evil acts on May 9.

The cabinet meeting was held at the Parliament House aimed at delivering a message of unity and unison, in addition to expressing solidarity with the nation’s martyrs and heroes. The PM said the May 9 onslaught was carried out to undermine the PDM government’s efforts to stabilise the economy, impede the normalisation of strained ties with friendly countries and cover up the foreign funding, Toshakhana, and 190-million-pound corruption scams, and ensure appointments to key posts without merit.

He said except for May 9, the politicians despite facing tough circumstances, played a role in pacifying the situation either through the slogan of ‘Pakistan Khappay’ or tolerated the hardships without uttering a single word against the country. 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, anti-Pakistan propaganda was being spread from abroad, and letters were being written by some elements to destabilise the national economy.

In his remarks at the special cabinet meeting, 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 corrective course. He lauded PM 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 declared the PTI leadership directly 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.

However, Political Affairs Adviser Rana Sanaullah termed the cabinet report unsatisfactory and traditional, lacking clear identification of those involved in the incidents. It was decided in the session that the recommendations of the interim cabinet committee would be discussed in parliament for legislation.

Meanwhile, addressing families of martyrs at the Convention Centre, PM Shehbaz Sharif said the government would definitely go after the culprits of May 9 with strict punishments through courts, so that such unfortunate incidents would not recur. “There is no reprieve for such culprits. I assure you that the law will take its due course and that no such incident will recur in the country,” he said. The event was organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to mark the first anniversary of the May 9 (2023) violent incidents and to express solidarity with the martyrs and their families.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police Islamabad Ali Nasir Rizvi said he was the DIG Operations Lahore on the fateful day and supervised the operation against rioters despite eye injuries for two and a half hours. The family members of the martyrs also expressed their feelings and shared memories of their loved ones. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, cabinet members and political figures also attended the event.

The Punjab Assembly passed a resolution condemning the May-9 incidents, amid strong protest from the opposition. The resolution demanded strict punishment for the culprits. The opposition MPAs gathered in front of the speaker’s dais and chanted slogans against the PMLN government and tore the copies of resolution. The resolution, moved by Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, stated that the residence of Quaid-e-Azam was torched and an effort was made to tarnish Pakistan’s image globally. The resolution also lauded the country’s institutions which foiled the conspiracy against Pakistan and saved the country from destruction. It called for exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of the May 9 incident.

Talking to the media outside the Punjab Assembly, Opposition leader Ahmad Khan Bachar said May 9 incident was a controversial occurrence that took place under the caretaker set-up.

Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani termed May 9 a dark day in the history of Pakistan and strongly condemned the incidents, vandalism and attacks on sensitive facilities including Jinnah House. He said such incidents were not allowed in civilised societies. He said every Pakistani was still saddened by what happened on May 9.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi came down hard on PTI leader Asad Qaiser for his recent statement wherein he rejected any apology to anyone. He said Asad Qaiser should not utter such words as his party had instigated people to create chaos.

Kundi was talking to media persons at the mausoleum of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider) who is a hero of the Kargil War. Recalling the May 9 violence of last year, he said the protesters were instigated by the PTI leaders and they created disturbance in the country.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in her message said, “The nation will neither forget nor forgive May 9.” She added, “May 9 is a dark chapter of our national history. The authoritarians, in their lust for power, did what even the enemy could not do. It is very crucial to bring the anti-Pakistan plotters to justice, because their power lust has crossed the red line of honour and dignity of the nation.”

Also, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah described May 9 incident as a deep-rooted conspiracy to divide the nation and target the national institutions. Speaking at Paigham-e-Amn event, organised by the Sindh Information Department at a local hotel, he said the enemies of Pakistan led by PTI founder wanted to divide the country.

Separately, political activists, lawyers, social, and cultural organisations, students and traders observed the black day in Multan against May-9 vandalism. They held a rally and expressed solidarity with the armed forces, saluted them and paid rich tribute in Multan and south Punjab cities. The Multan District Bar Association observed a complete strike. To condemn the attack on Jinnah House and installations of armed forces on May 9, 2023, rallies were brought out in all cities of Toba Tek Singh district. Employees of government departments, activists of PMLN, PPP and pro-government religious organisations participated in these rallies.

PMLN Ulema-Mashaikh Wing Punjab General Secretary Sahibzada Hafiz Muhammad Amjad said those responsible for May 9 tragedy must be punished. Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, alongside prominent religious leaders, said May 9 was one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s history.