Despite different federal ministers and political leaders accusing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan of being the planner of May 9 riots, a report prepared by the interim government has not identified him as the “mastermind” of the incident.
As per the details, the then caretaker government had named a five-member committee tasked with identifying the “roles of mastermind, planners, facilitators and executors” of May 9 incidents that saw countrywide violence following the arrest of former premier Khan.
While the violence was widely discussed, including at military forums, even the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press releases or media briefings never mentioned the names of the mastermind or planners of the May 9 incidents.
This was because, a private media outlet has claimed, the caretaker government on Tuesday presented a report to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet, wherein former premier Khan was mentioned as someone who “actively contributed” to the planning of attacks on military installations but did not label him as the “mastermind”.
Evidence shown to the committee suggests several party leaders were involved in this planning, the media report maintained, adding that the caretaker government’s report further accused 52 individuals of planning the May 9 violent demonstrations and 185 persons of executing the plan.
However, it did not mention the name of the planner or the person who came up with the strategy.
“The pattern of violence on May 9, 2023, suggests that these people were following a carefully crafted strategy in attacking specific targets, including military installations. An examination of call logs shows that certain PTI leaders made these calls to the rioters attacking the Jinnah House,” the report said.
Dozens were injured and properties worth millions damaged as PTI activists took to roads for violent demonstrations after party chief Khan was arrested in the Al Qadir Trust case from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) last year. The arrest had come hours after the former premier posted a video message wherein he called out the military yet again.
As many as 40 public and military installations, including Lahore Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House), Askari Tower in Lahore, General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Office in Faisalabad, FC Fort in Chakdara, Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar, Toll Plaza at Swat Motorway and the Mianwali Air Base, were attacked between May 9 and May 10.