RAWALPINDI: Jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chief Imran Khan has rejected demands by the military to apologize for the May 9 incident, distancing his party from violent protests across the country shortly after his arrest.
The ousted prime minister, who has been detained since August last year, spoke informally to reporters at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Wednesday. from corruption to breaking the Official Secrets Act.
The PTI founder responded to a question about the Inter-Directorate General of Public Relations (ISPR) in a press conference on Tuesday, where he asked them to “apologise to those who participated in the violent demonstration on May 9” and leave. policy “anarchy” before all talks.
In a press briefing, the Military Spokesperson also ordered to hold talks with those who attacked military installations and insulted the nation’s martyrs.
He also said on May 9 that the accused and the perpetrators should be punished according to the Constitution and the law.
The May 9 incident is related to the violent protests that erupted last year after former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s corruption-related arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
During the protest, PTI supporters allegedly damaged public and private properties and attacked military installations in different parts of the country.
In an interaction with reporters today, the PTI founder distanced himself from violent protests, saying the party had never resorted to violence in its 27-year history.
He also said that he came to know about the May 9 riots only after the Chief Justice, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, was represented in the Supreme Court.
“If you don’t want to talk, don’t talk, I am asking for talks for Pakistan,” the outgoing prime minister said, citing the ISPR DG’s statement.
Khan said he did not want to sign a “contract” or wanted to go abroad.
He also pointed to the 2021 Capitol riots in the United States, saying that the suspect involved in the Capitol attack was convicted after being identified through CCTV footage.
“The CCTV footage here [in Pakistan] has been lost,” he said, referring to the ongoing investigation into the May 9 violence.
Khan also backed ISPR DG Major General Chaudhry’s call for a judicial inquiry into the alleged 2014 rigging of the party in the 2013 general elections by the PTI.
“I am ready to investigate the 2014 party. I welcome appearing before the investigation committee. All the allegations leveled against me related to the 2014 seat are false,” he said.
“The army is ours and we have no problem with the army,” the PTI founder said in the same communication. “For God’s sake don’t involve the military in politics.”
