PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday announced that miscreants involved in attacks on army installations and civil properties during the May 9 violent protests would be tried in military courts and anti-terrorism courts (ATCs), respectively. Chairing a meeting on the law and order situation here, Shehbaz said everyone who was involved in the incidents of May 9, either in the planning or execution of violence or vandalism would be dealt with an iron hand. He also alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was the mastermind of the May 9 attacks on military installations, including Jinnah House, Lahore.
There is no denying the fact that public and private properties were freely damaged during violent protests on different occasions during the checkered history of the country. Peaceful gatherings and protests are constitutionally protected rights of the citizens but there is no room for arson, looting and damaging public and private properties in any civilized society and perpetrators of such crimes are dealt with sternly under the relevant laws. As for attacks on public and private properties are concerned, these were widely observed in the past as well and the mischief continues because of the inability of the state to penalize the perpetrators of such crimes. The entire nation witnessed attacks on the parliament building and PTV Headquarters but the justice system saw nothing wrong in that violence and that is why we ended up with attacks on military installations and buildings as well. There should be no victimization but all those involved, in any manner, in May 09 attacks need to be brought to the book and made an example if we want to ensure rule of law and prevent such incidents in future. Such is the ghastly nature of May 09 attacks that these are not only being roundly condemned by all segments of the society but even sensible minds in the PTI too are distancing themselves from what happened on that day. Senior and middle level leaders are deserting the party on an almost daily basis and there are clear indications of the PTI caught in a complicated situation. Its Chairman Imran Khan has done well by condemning the attack on Jinnah House in Lahore but what about attacks on GHQ, ISI offices and other military buildings and well as the historic building of Radio Pakistan, Peshawar. There are also contradictions in his approach as on the one hand, in an interview to CNN, he seems to have softened his stand towards Pakistan Army but on the other, he is heard complaining to Americans that the military was engaged in human rights violation, an issue that is also being propagated by overseas chapters of the party in cities like London and Paris. Criminals are criminals and must not be shielded behind concerns about human rights.
