No new laws to try May 9 rioters, PM tells NA

Shehbaz says Imran removed Gen Asim as DG ISI for pointing out corruption of Bushra Bibi

ISLAMABAD:

 

The government would not enact new legislation to try those responsible for violent attacks on the civil and military installations after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on May 9, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Shehbaz said that he did not have any prior information about the arrest warrant issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against the PTI chairman over Rs60 billion corruption allegations.

“God is my witness that I had no knowledge of the NAB warrant,” the prime minister told the house. “NAB had issued the warrant against Imran Khan in a case of corruption of Rs60 billion,” he added.

“These Rs60 billion belong to Sindh, which should have been deposited with the national treasury, which did not happen,” he said, alleging that the former prime minister deceived the cabinet in order to take a decision in his favour.

“How Imran Khan will hide this corruption of Rs60 billion, where will he take this money. Previously, he sold a [gifted] watch with a model of the Kaaba and then presented a fake receipt,” Shehbaz charged the PTI chairman.

The PM said the destruction witnessed in the aftermath of Imran Khan's arrest is unlike anything we have ever seen before in the history of Pakistan.

Giving his own example, he said that when he used to come to the court to face cases, not even a single flowerpot was broken.

However, the prime minister assured the house that those involved in attacks on the government buildings would not be spared in any way. The culprits would by brought to justice and tried under the existing laws, he declared.

“Those who insulted the martyrs and soldiers of the nation, those who burnt the Quaid-i-Azam House, they must be brought to justice. If those responsible are not punished, the country will not survive. What happened is unbearable,” he added.

Shehbaz expressed his commitment to justice without seeking personal vendetta. He emphasized that those responsible for the May 9 riots would be brought before the court of law to face accountability. "Ensuring the punishment of the culprits aligns with the public's mandate. The situation is no longer within our control,” he added.

However, he clarified that no new law was being enacted after the May 9 violence, adding: “Anti-Terrorism Act will apply to those involved in attacks on civilian installations, while the attackers of military installations would be tried under Army Act.”

Shehbaz also accused Imran of “lying” over transfer of army chief Asim Munir in 2019 from the post of the director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He said that Gen Munir was transferred because he had highlighted the corruption of Imran’s wife.

“I say this with full responsibility that incumbent army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir, when he was DG ISI, had told then prime minister Imran Khan that his wife [Bushra Bibi] was involved in corruption,” Shehbaz said.

“But obviously Imran got furious over it and did not like it. And the rest is history,” he said. “Today, I would like to say that Imran Khan has betrayed the nation by sprouting a lie,” he said, referring to Imran’s tweet the other day.

Shehbaz also referred to the Imran’s claims of a US conspiracy behind his removal from the government in April last year, adding that now the PTI chairman was making phone calls to [a lawmaker of] the same country for help.

The prime minister stated that such statement damaged Pakistan’s relations with US. He also accused Imran of denting the relationship with China, adding however that the current government worked hard to maintain the country’s international relations.

“China stands by us like the Himalayas and boycotted the G20 meeting in Srinagar. News have also come from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which have supported us on the issue of Kashmir,” he added.

Shehbaz announced that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had taken notice of the propaganda against Pakistan. “We will form small delegations and send them abroad. Tomorrow, we have called a meeting and will take a decision in this regard.”