Web Desk
• Equates perpetrators of May 9, 10 violence with terrorists, vows not to allow such acts to be repeated
• Centre, KP team up to track down PTI leaders who incited people to violence
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conducted a thorough assessment of the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Thursday, asserting that those responsible for the attack on civil and defense installations on May 9 would be prosecuted under anti-terror laws.
During separate meetings with the governor and senior provincial officials, the prime minister received briefings on militancy and the overall law and order situation in the province, including recent militant attacks targeting police and law enforcement agencies.
Sources indicate that the prime minister was also informed about the response of the KP police force. However, when asked about future action plans, an official stated that no such discussions took place in the meeting with the prime minister.
In his meeting with Governor Ghulam Ali, Prime Minister Shehbaz was apprised of the overall situation in KP, including the tribal districts and the province’s finances.
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According to the APP news agency, while chairing a high-level meeting at the Governor House, Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized that the nation would not forgive those who attacked civil and defense installations on May 9 and 10 if they managed to escape justice. He further stated that individuals involved in the riots and their planners would face trial under relevant sections of the anti-terrorism act.
Addressing the occasion, the prime minister mentioned that this important meeting was originally scheduled to take place shortly after May 9 but was delayed due to unavoidable engagements. However, he shared that he had a Zoom meeting with the provincial governor and chief minister, who updated him on the damages and losses caused by the rioters.
The prime minister expressed regret that these elements, who claimed to be pro-Pakistan, were actually involved in vandalism and had caused damage that surpassed anything the country’s enemies had ever inflicted in its 75-year history. However, he stressed the importance of avoiding injustice against any innocent person during this process.
Meanwhile, the federal and KP governments decided to expedite ongoing efforts to bring the top-tier leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to justice for their alleged role in inciting the general public to violence on May 9.
“Caretaker minister for information Feroze Jamal Shah Kakakhel told Dawn that the focus was on information sharing since the top tier of PTI’s KP chapter is in hiding,” he said. He added that during the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz, it was decided not to let anyone escape accountability.
Kakakhel revealed that calls had been traced, indicating alleged involvement of the top provincial PTI leadership in inciting protesters to reach the KP Governor House. He further stated that those directly involved in attacking military installations across the province would be tried in military courts, while those who damaged civilian installations would face trial under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997. However, he did not disclose the names of PTI leaders found to be involved in such incitement.
He mentioned that the provincial government had already shared video footage and pictures of those allegedly involved in violent protests with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), and action would be taken once the data was received by the provincial government.
Additionally, the prime minister visited the Radio Pakistan building, which was severely damaged during the riots on May 10.
During the visit, he expressed his disappointment that the building from which Pakistan’s independence announcement was broadcast had been ransacked and set on fire by the rioters.
At an event to show solidarity with Radio Pakistan employees, the prime minister stated that the events of May 10 exposed the barbaric mindset of the attackers, who displayed no regard for humanity and national heritage.
A statement released by the information department on Thursday highlighted that apart from the building, protesters had destroyed the decades-old archive of Radio Pakistan in Peshawar.
The prime minister instructed Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb to promptly initiate efforts to restore the Radio Pakistan premises and provide all necessary resources for its rehabilitation.
The prime minister emphasized that there was no difference between the rioters of May 9-10 and the terrorists. He assured that his government would ensure that such deplorable incidents are never repeated again.
