May 9 riots: Ex-PTI MPs allege plan made at Imran, other leaders’ behest

RAWALPINDI: Former Punjab Assembly speaker Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi and former member of the National Assembly Sadaqat Ali Abbasi Saturday revealed that the planning of the May 9 riots was done at the behest of party founder Imran Khan, Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and his nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, sources told Geo News.

According to the politicians, who have become approvers in the case, Raja Basharat, Rashid Shafiq, Ejaz Khan and Rashid Hafeez were also part of leading the plans, the sources added.

The anti-terrorism court has, therefore, summoned Khan, Sheikh Rashid and Rashid Shafiq on February 6.

The May 9 riots were triggered almost across the country after the deposed prime minister’s arrest in the £190 million settlement case. Hundreds of PTI workers and senior leaders were put behind bars for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations.

During the protests, the miscreants targeted the civil and military installations including — Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military termed May 9 “Black Day” and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act.

The aforementioned former PTI lawmakers including Umer Tanveer Butt have recorded statements of section 154 in the court, said the sources.

The sources have also added that Ajmal Sabir, the PTI-backed candidate for the NA-53 constituency, has also become an approver against Sheikh Rashid.

In his statement, Sabir said the AML chief summoned a meeting at Lal Haveli on May 6 where the May 9 events were planned.

The PTI-backed candidate is currently in police custody for involvement in May 9 cases.

Earlier, PTI Founder Imran Khan, former interior minister Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Rashid Shafiq have been summoned in May 9 violence case on February 6.

The anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi heard the case against the PTI founder and Sheikh Rashid in May 9 riots. Meanwhile, the officials at the Punjab Home Department said that the May 9 plan was pre-coordinated and attacks on state institutions were carried out at the behest of the PTI central leadership. while the report described the May 9 attack as the style of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Top officials at the Home Department confirmed the report and said the Home Department acted just like a post office as the report was compiled after sent by the Law and Enforcement Agencies (LAEs). The official chose to remain anonymous while talking to The News. He said that Home Department did not issue the report to media persons . It was leaked by someone , he added.

Punjab Home Department submitted a detailed report on May 9 incidents to the Punjab government. On May 9, war was declared against the state. Regarding the May 9 incident, a comprehensive report had been prepared and submitted to the Punjab government on the attacks that took place on that day

The report was compiled by Home Department and was approved by the Standing Committee on Law and Order and this report has also been included in the official documents as per the rules. The report consists of 17 attributes, in which it is written that the incident on May 9 was called a war against the state. PTI workers attacked the state on May 9, while the report described the May 9 attack as the style of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. It was likened to an attack. The report said that according to all the evidence, the May 9 plan was pre-coordinated and attacks on state institutions were carried out at the behest of the PTI central leadership. The report added that the leadership’s agenda was only to attack state institutions, plans to target military installations had already been made, PTI workers attacked GHQ building, headquarters, ISI offices. They attacked the Air Base, Martyrs’ Memorial and its buildings, GHQ, ISI offices and installations were part of the plan. In the report, the central leadership has been held responsible for the May 9 tragedy, while the local leadership was also involved along with the central leadership.

According to the report, people were incited through the phones of the party leadership and social media. In the report, there is clear evidence against Hamad Azhar, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Ghulam Mahudin , Ali Abbas, Andalib Abbas, Mian Mahmood-ul-Rashid, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, Murad Ras, Mansab Awan, Azam Khan Niazi and Bajash Niazi. They were inciting people to carry out attacks through telephones. The report also mentions the incitement of people through social media while the report also mentioned the damage caused by the May 9 incident in which private vehicles and government buildings were damaged along with government vehicles. In the report, PTI workers attacked Jinnah House in Lahore Cantt and caused a loss of Rs1.5 billion. Provincial Minister Mansoor Qadir says that the caretaker government had made a comprehensive report on the investigation of the events that happened on May 9 as a part of the official record so that it is now a part of the official record and it is written in this report. No one can change it later.