Cases will be tried by anti-terrorism courts; Ex-PM, his ‘mob’ not less than anti-Pakistan elements; Visits vandalised Corps Commander House
After visiting the Corps Commander House in Lahore that was ransacked by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protesters, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Punjab government to move swiftly and arrest the vandals within 72 hours.
“I have given law enforcement apparatus a target of 72 hours to arrest all those involved in facilitating, abetting and perpetrating the disgraceful incidents of arson, ransacking, sabotage & damaging public & private properties,” the PM said after chairing a meeting at the Punjab Safe City Authority Headquarters in Lahore.
He said that all available resources including technological aid and intelligence are being deployed to chase down these elements.
“Bringing these people to justice is a test case for the government. Their cases will be tried by the anti-terrorism courts,” he said, adding that such kind of terrorism is unacceptable.
Lamenting the May 9 violence triggered by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest, PM Shehbaz said the Jinnah House has been burnt down completely on which the whole nation is in grief.
“Terrible events in the history of Pakistan took place on May 9. Corps Commander House is the historic Jinnah House and seeing it [in such a condition] is disheartening,” said the PM.
Slamming his predecessor Imran Khan, the PM said that the former prime minister and his “mob” are not less than anti-Pakistan elements.
The prime minister said the whole nation was in an utter state of grief over such painful incidents except Imran Niazi and his armed followers who had acted no less than the enemies of Pakistan as no Pakistani could ever think of such action or planning.
“It is time to do or die or now or never. The real culprits who showed this kind of enmity against the motherland should be arrested and produced in anti-terrorism courts under the relevant laws. These elements should be arrested immediately, without fear or favour,” he added.
“Alas, as a Pakistani, I would not have lived to watch such a dreadful day,” he regretted, adding the people who were indulged in this abhorrent act, would be made to face criminal proceedings.
Those who made plans and armed their rioters with weapons and batons to attack the law enforcement personnel and buildings would be dealt with iron hands, “so that they could become a permanent example for all that those who might act against Pakistan,” added.
The prime minister observed that the armed forces and the law enforcement personnel had been ever ready to sacrifice their lives to foil designs of the enemies, whether it was 65 war or in the fight against terrorism in which about 80,000 Pakistani lost their lives, including the armed forces officers, personnel, police, paramilitary forces and every member of society had sacrificed which led to crushing the scourge of terrorism.
“They have protected the motherland with their blood while leaving behind their bereaved families,” he said, adding the PTI rioters also defiled the ‘shuhada’ and attacked their monuments.
“Those involved in terrorist activities should be convicted as per the law,” said the PM. He assured that the law will deal with the miscreants with an “iron hand”.
“What the enemies could not do in 75 years, the PTI miscreants were able to do it. Government property was damaged under a plan,” said the PM.
The premier also regretted that the martyr’s memorial was also damaged and called for the trial to be held against the miscreants in anti-terrorism courts.
“If anti-terrorism courts have to be opened at night to punish the criminals, then they should be opened,” urged the PM and directed the police and the administration to immediately arrest the miscreants as the “whole situation is unacceptable”.
The premier in the meeting also directed Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar to increase the number of anti-terrorism courts.
Earlier, PM Shehbaz, along with interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, visited the vandalised Lahore Corps Commander House where he extended solidarity with the country’s military leadership. He later also paid a visit to the Services Hospital to meet with the injured personnel.
The CM and PM met Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi at the Services Hospital, where he had his eye operated on, which was hit during PTI supporters’ protests.
