Ex-PTI MPA booked for ‘masterminding’ Radio Pakistan attack

Police sources say Asif Khan had been in contact with the charged protesters on May 10 in Peshawar

A former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial lawmaker has emerged as the prime suspect in the attack on Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar on May 10 that transpired following the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan a day earlier, police sources said on Thursday.

Through geo-fencing, it was determined that former MPA Asif Khan was in contact with the angry protestors who took part in the incident. After cross-examining 51 suspects who were arrested for vandalism and arson, their statements corroborated that Asif Khan issued instructions for the protestors to vandalise and set items on fire, Express News reported.

According to sources within the Peshawar Police, the suspect has gone into hiding and switched off his telephone since the incident. Subsequently, an FIR which includes provisions of terrorism has been registered against Asif Khan in the Sharqi police station.

On May 10, miscreants launched a violent attack on the building of Radio Pakistan in Peshawar, causing significant damage and depriving millions of listeners of the cherished Pashto and Urdu songs of renowned musicians and singers.

Police had rounded up dozens of PTI leaders and hundreds of activists after May 9 riots on military establishments in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

In its report issued on May 22, the K-P police claimed to have made 809 arrests. Hundreds of people were arrested in countrywide crackdown against those involved in the arson and vandalism of government buildings during the violence that followed the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9.

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A majority of PTI stalwarts have either quit party or politics, while a few loyalists like Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and Dr Yasmin Rashid are facing trials in courts.

On May 25, the federal cabinet was informed that about 95 per cent people involved in the violent incidents on May 9 were identified whereas 60 per cent of the miscreants involved in the incidents had been arrested.

‘Military trial’

The National Assembly and the Senate on June 12 passed separate resolutions condemning the May 9 violence across the country in which several government buildings, including military installations, were attacked.

The resolutions, without mentioning the name of the PTI or its chairman, slammed “a political party” for crossing all limits and flouting the Constitution in its actions against the national security institutions.

The NA resolution, moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, demanded that the cases against the perpetrators be tried under the Army Act. It stressed that allegations of violation of human rights in this regard were baseless.

Yesterday, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the accused being proceeded against under army laws would get fair trial as military courts meet the “internationally acknowledged minimum requirements”.