Imran to pursue legal action for May 9 footage

Omar Ayub says military, agencies should stay in their lane

LAHORE/RAWALPINDI:

PTI leader Omar Ayub has announced that former prime minister and incarcerated party founder Imran Khan intends to take legal action to obtain the CCTV footage of the controversial events of May 9.

Speaking to the media outside an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Ayub, who also serves as the opposition leader in the National Assembly, asserted that military and intelligence agencies are tools of the state and should stay in their lane and operate within their constitutional boundaries.

"I am not an spokesperson of the ISPR. Let them bring out the CCTV footage from May 9. Imran Khan will pursue the case for this footage, and we have no deals with anyone," he asserted.

The PTI leader's revelation about a possible legal action follows hot on the heels of Imran Khan's offering of conditional mea culpa, saying that he would apologise for the May 9 unrest only if CCTV footage conclusively nails his party supporters for storming government facilities.

The ex-PM also promised he would not only issue a public apology but also boot the culprits out of the party.

Speaking to journalists, Omar Ayub further said, "The military possesses G3 rifles, tanks, and fighter jets, while the Air Force has JF-17s, and the Navy commands submarines and ships. Each institution has its defined role, and they must stick to it."

"The Constitution clearly states that politics is the domain of politicians."

Citing Article 7 of the Constitution, Ayub stressed that the state was represented by the parliament, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies, as well as tax-imposing authorities.

He further conveyed Imran's message, saying that the PML-N and PPP were creating a divide between the military and the public.

Reiterating PTI founder's demands, he called for an independent ECP, saying that this is an election year, and only a strong prime minister can lead the country out of its current crisis.

"Electricity rates were increased by Rs2.50 per unit just yesterday. How can someone earning only twenty or twenty-five thousand rupees a month survive under these circumstances?" Ayub questioned.

The opposition leader also dismissed any rumours of deals with other parties.

'Imran is a political reality'

Separately, PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, speaking to journalists at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, condemned the decades-old practice of branding political opponents as traitors, a tactic that has been the bane of the country's political arena for 75 years.

Qureshi asserted that regardless of opinions, Imran Khan remains a political reality that cannot be ignored. "Without acknowledging Imran Khan's political importance, stability will remain elusive," he said.

Qureshi also condemned the tragic fate of Nawab Akbar Bugti, declaring that Bugti was not an enemy of Pakistan, and denounced the practice of calling each other traitors. "I've been in politics for 40 years, and for 39 of those years, I faced no charges. Now, in just one year, dozens of cases have been filed against me," he lamented.

He praised Mahmood Khan Achakzai as a democrat, stating that those who hold democratic and constitutional views cannot be labelled as traitors. Qureshi stressed that peace in Balochistan can only be achieved through dialogue and negotiations.