Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday held the judiciary responsible for delays in concluding the case of those involved in the May 9, 2023, riots and violence.
Speaking from London, the minister criticized the judiciary for stalling justice. He called Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan a “product of the establishment.” He added, “The delay in bringing those responsible for May 9 violence to justice was caused by the judiciary.”
His remarks came after 25 individuals linked to the May 9 attacks were sentenced by military courts. The sentences, announced a day earlier, ranged from two to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
“Urgent decisions were needed on May 9 matters,” Asif stressed. He described Imran Khan as the “mastermind” of the riots. He alleged that the violence was planned by someone who was “a product of the establishment.”
The minister also claimed that individuals involved in the May 9 attacks were trained. He said rioters targeted sensitive military and government installations.
At least 70 PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, are accused of planning the May 9 protests. The events followed Khan’s arrest in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. The protests saw widespread violence, with civil and military installations, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ), attacked.
The military declared May 9 as “Black Day” and decided to try the accused under the Army Act. Imran Khan, however, blamed “agencies men” for inciting violence and arson during the protests.
In his address, Asif said the military courts sentenced the accused based on clear evidence. He stated, “Videos show the convicts attacking military installations.”
The minister also accused PTI of coming to power through alleged rigging in the 2018 elections. He referred to the Results Transmission System (RTS) failure and claimed it benefited PTI. He reiterated PML-N’s stance that the RTS failure cost them the elections.
Asif criticized Imran Khan’s leadership style. He said, “A person who takes a U-turn cannot be a national leader.” He also accused Khan of seeking U.S. support to return to power after being ousted.
The minister praised PML-N president Nawaz Sharif for making Pakistan a nuclear state despite international pressure. He condemned the judiciary for convicting Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Papers case. Asif called the verdict a “shameful decision” and claimed it was part of a conspiracy to overthrow Nawaz’s government.
He alleged that former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa supported a “minus Nawaz Sharif project.”
Speaking on the proposed negotiations between the PTI and the ruling coalition, Asif said circumstances had brought unwilling parties to the table. However, he dismissed the sincerity of these talks, calling them a “waste of time.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a high-level committee to negotiate with PTI. The committee includes senior members of the coalition government. PTI has also established a committee for talks, signaling a shift from its confrontational approach.
Asif vowed to bring the “mastermind” behind the May 9 violence to justice. He assured that sentences for operatives were just the beginning. “A May 9-like situation will not occur again, even if the PTI founder is sentenced,” he concluded.
