The federal government has called for “swift justice” in the cases related to the May 9, 2023, riots, after Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, presented what he described as “undeniable evidence” linking Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers to the violent protests.
During a press conference in Lahore on Saturday, Tarar released CCTV footage, audio recordings, and photographs showing PTI leaders allegedly orchestrating attacks on military installations and national memorials. The minister emphasized that the evidence was clear, stating, “It is now up to the courts to ensure swift justice.”
Tarar said the videos, which included footage from cities like Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and others, directly connected PTI members to the violence. The videos depicted attacks on various military sites, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, army bases, and other key locations. Some footage also featured PTI leaders allegedly inciting protesters to target military installations.
Accusing PTI leaders of being behind a “well-organized conspiracy,” Tarar said they had received direct orders to target these sites. He also pointed out that the ruling party had repeatedly demanded evidence, which, according to him, had now been publicly presented.
Tarar criticized PTI founder Imran Khan and his associates for not taking responsibility for the violence, questioning whether they would apologize to the nation. He also accused PTI of seeking to cause chaos and destabilize the country, calling the party the “Tehreek-e-Inteshar” (Movement for Chaos).
The minister assured that all the evidence, including the CCTV footage, was secure and could not be altered. He called for the cases to be resolved quickly, to set an example and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The riots followed the arrest of Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, triggering violent protests across the country. Demonstrators targeted government and military buildings, leading to extensive damage, at least eight deaths, and hundreds of injuries. Thousands of PTI workers and leaders were arrested in connection with the violence, which also led to attacks on key military sites such as GHQ and Jinnah House. The military has labeled May 9 as a “Black Day” and announced that those involved in the violence would be tried under the Army Act. However, PTI has been claiming 9th Many as a false flag operation.
