Defence Minister says government can impose ban on PTI: May 9 riots
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that the government could impose a ban on Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf for its involvement in attacks on military offices and installations.
Khawaja Asif, however, ignored PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s advice to party leaders not to talk about banning PTI.
Two days ago, leading TV channels broadcast tickers of Nawaz Sharif’s statement in which he asked his party leaders to avoid talking about ban on PTI.
Defence Minister said that the matter of banning PTI will be sent to the Parliament for approval in case the federal government endorsed it.
On May 9, PTI supporters resorted to violence after the arrest of Imran Khan. They ransacked the Jinnah House, official residence of Corps Commander of Lahore, attacked the GHQ main entrance, ruined PAF aeroplanes and set on fire public and private property in different cities.
Khawaja Asif said that the government has solid proofs of PTI’s involvement in May 9 attacks which were enough to ban the party.
Trial in military courts is internal matter: Hina
Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that the trial of arsonists under the Pakistan Army Act 1952 is an internal matter of Pakistan.
She defended the federal government’s decision to hold trial of people involved in attacks on state and army installations on May 9, after the arrest of Imran Khan.
Hina Khar said, “No state can condone incidents of arson and vandalism.”
“Is there any state in the world that does not respond to arson and vandalism? Everyone saw the response to the attack on Capitol Hill in America,” she said while talking to media persons after attending a parliamentary meeting.
On May 17, the civil and military leaders endorsed a decision to invoke the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 and the Official Secrets Act, 1923 against people involved in the May 9 riots.
Violence gripped the country on May 9 after the arrest of former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan.
