Houses, defence installations burnt on Imran’s directives: Sana

Interior minister says PTI chief told his 'goons' beforehand how to react to his arrest

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan of training "terrorists" who took part in the recent wave of arson and vandalism in the country following his May 9 arrest.

Addressing a news conference on Saturday, he said the goons of Imran Khan burnt houses and defence installations on directives of former prime minister, who had instructed them to resort to violence and spread chaos and anarchy in the country.

The minister said that Imran Khan told his goons beforehand how to react to his arrest. It was not the nation’s reaction, instead, it was the reaction of a group who got training and instructions from Imran Khan, he said.

The minister said that during the three days, only 40,000 to 45,000 people participated in the protest against the arrest of Imran Khan across the country.

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Sharing the numbers of the protesters, he said, protests were staged at 12 spots in Islamabad on May 9, during which 650 to 700 people participated. Moreover, he added, during protests staged at 221 spots in Punjab on May 9, 15,000 to 18,000 people participated.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, he said that protests were staged at 126 spots in which only 19,000-22,000 people participated. On the second day of protests, 1,900 participated in demonstrations in Islamabad, 2,200 in Punjab and 13,000 in K-P, he added.

Sharing the numbers for the third-day protests, he said that 515 people participated in Islamabad, 5,000 to 6,000 in K-P and 800-1,000 in Punjab.

He said that the violent protesters were involved in the looting of shops and residences. The minister vowed that “the gangs produced by PTI chief Imran Khan” would never be forgiven. “They will be identified through CCTV cameras and will not be allowed to go scot free.”

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Rana Sanaullah reiterated the stance of the ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which took exception to the relief given to Khan by the courts.

According to him, no one else in Pakistan's judicial and constitutional history has been given such a relief. "After that, how can high courts and district courts dare to do anything then," he said, adding that Imran Khan was given whatever he asked for.

He said that the Islamabad High Court had given blanket relief to Imran Khan. The minister said that from day one, it was the stance of political parties that Imran Khan was not a political leader instead he was a “Fitna” (mischief).

He alleged that the prime objective of Imran Khan was to create unrest and chaos in the country. The interior minister said that PTI chief should be removed from politics through votes, otherwise, he would put the country in danger.

Rana said that it was not the culture of the political parties to set defence installations on fire and attack the houses of political opponents.

The minister said that in past, despite the political differences, no political parties attacked each other's homes.

“Specific culture of attacking political opponents had been injected by Imran Khan in the country’s politics” he added.

Rana Sanaullah claimed that Imran’s objective was to “spread anarchy and chaos” in the country and his entire struggle was directed towards achieving this purpose.

“Since 2014, he has created a cult,” the minister added.

The minister questioned how political workers can stop the ambulance and attack the patients. “Can political workers set schools and Radio Pakistan buildings on fire?” he asked.

Rana said that the animal market was first looted by the PTI miscreants and after that, they also set it on fire.

The minister said that documented evidences were available of Rs60 billion corruption committed by Imran Khan.

The minister said that Imran Khan and his wife were trustees of Al-Qadir Trust and both were accused of corruption of Rs60 billion, adding Imran Khan be held answerable for that.

The minister said that NAB sent a call of notices to Imran Khan after investigating a corruption case of Rs60 billion.

“Being an office holder, he has to answer for Rs60 billion corruption in an open and shut case,” he added.

“Staging a protest was a political and democratic right of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), and accordingly, the political parties would present their point of view outside the Supreme Court premises [on Monday],” he concluded.