Imran Khan refutes claims of inciting GHQ protests, calls May 9 riots ‘false flag operation’

Former PM says masses were incited by ‘humiliating’ abduction of a former prime minister

Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on Wednesday stated that a narrative has been created with an agenda to accuse him of inciting the public to protest at the General Headquarters (GHQ) during the May 9 riots.

In a statement released on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he clarified that in the nearly three-decade history of PTI, there has never been an instance of violent protests. "Over the past two and a half years, the worst tactics were used against PTI to incite violence," he added.

In November 2022, he said that there was an assassination attempt on him, and even his request for an FIR of his choice was denied.

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The former prime minister further revealed that his residence was attacked twice by military personnel. On one occasion, during his court appearance, there was a deliberate plan to assassinate him by deploying plainclothes individuals, he added.

On May 9, he explained that the masses were incited by the humiliating abduction of a former prime minister and the leader of Pakistan's largest and most popular political party, which could have led to a major incident.

He added that PTI's political training does not include elements of violence and the party believes in political, constitutional, and legal struggles.

Imran Khan said that May 9 was a false flag operation. "Those who stole the CCTV footage of May 9 are the real culprits of that day. Their intellect is such that they compare the May 9 incident to the Capitol Hill protest in the USA, where a thorough investigation and review of CCTV footage led to the punishment of only those involved, without implicating the entire Republican Party," he added.