‘95%’ May 9 rioters identified

Federal cabinet informed cases registered under PPC, ATC


May 25, 2023
Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan throw stones after police fire tear gas to disperse them in Lahore on May 9, 2023.—File photo

ISLAMABAD:

The federal cabinet on Wednesday was informed that about 95 per cent people involved in violent incidents on May 9 were identified whereas 60 per cent of the miscreants involved in the incidents had been arrested.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, directed expediting the identification process and arrest of people involved in the May 9 incidents, stressing that no innocent citizen should be arrested in the backdrop of such incidents, the PM Office Media Wing said in a statement.

Addressing the participants, the prime minister said that the entire nation was standing with its shuhada and their families. These martyrs had sacrificed their lives and left their orphan children behind to save the future of young generations.

The prime minister also stressed that all legal requirements should be fulfilled during the proceedings against the elements involved in the criminal incidents. Only those people were arrested who had been involved in the incidents, he added.

A detailed briefing was given over the damages inflicted upon the private and public properties during the unfortunate incidents of May 9.

It was informed, cases were registered against the attackers under the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act for staging attacks on civil and private buildings and properties. Only those people would be tried under the Army Act against whom there were solid evidences that they had been involved in attacks on the sensitive installations.

The right of appeal at the higher judiciary was available against the decisions taken after proceedings under the Army Act, it was further added.

The meeting was also briefed over facial recognition by NADRA. Videos and pictures along with places related to May 9 incidents were also screened during the meeting. The cabinet reaffirmed strict implementation of decisions taken during a meeting of the National Security Committee on May 16.

The cabinet further directed to effectively counter the PTI’s propaganda being churned out in different friendly countries. The meeting was briefed in details about the Road to Makkah Project and about its implementation under a memorandum signed on May 17.

Under the project, the intending Pakistani pilgrims would be able to complete their immigration in Pakistan, thus saving them from the process in Saudi Arabia.

Five special counters had been established at the Islamabad airport for the purpose where a total of 2450 pilgrims had been facilitated in the current Hajj season. A total of 26000 pilgrims would be facilitated from this project in the current year, it was added.

The meeting was further apprised that in the next year, the project would be extended to other airports of the country, taking the number of pilgrims to 75,000 who would be provided with this facility.

The cabinet accorded its approval to appointment of major general (retd) Hafeez ur Rehman as member administration of Pakistan Telecommunication. It also ratified its decision taken during Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting of May 16. APP

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