- Terms attacks on state installations during protests an ‘act of rebellion against the state’
- Says decision to ban PTI would be made in parliament after consultation with coalition parties
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has defended the government’s decision to try civilians in military courts, calling their alleged attacks on state installations during May 9 protests an “act of rebellion against the state”.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Asif said that the arrests of thousands of civilians over protests sparked in the aftermath of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s arrest were justified. He alleged that army installations were intentionally targeted.
“These people attacked their [the military’s] offices. They attacked their houses. They attacked their installations, such as air bases,” Asif said in an interview on Wednesday. “They planned it. It was not spontaneous. You must understand the gravity of the offence, the gravity of events which took place.”
Violent protests sparked across the country on May 9 after former premier Imran Khan was arrested from the premises of the federal capital’s high court.
The government later launched a massive crackdown against PTI leaders and workers, and rounded up thousands of people on charges of attacking civil and military installations.
As the crackdown intensified, dozens of PTI leaders – including close confidants of Imran Khan – started jumping ship in what was described by the PTI chief as “forced divorces.”
Later, the country’s civil and military leaders on May 17 endorsed a decision made a day earlier during a meeting of corps commanders to invoke the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 and the Official Secrets Act, 1923 against people involved in the May 9 riots.
On May 20, the federal cabinet also approved the decision to try the rioters under the Army Act and the Official Secrets Act.
However, the government has come under fire as human rights groups have been outraged by the decision to hand over civilians to military courts.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly opposed the use of military laws to try civilians saying that “while those responsible for arson and damaging public and private property during the recent protests should be held to account, they remain entitled to due process”.
When passed in 1952, the Army Act was primarily used to put military personnel on trial before military courts. Later amendments also allowed civilians accused of certain offences to be tried by military courts.
If convicted by a military court, defendants have the right to file an appeal within 40 days before a military court of appeal. If the defendants still think they did not receive a fair trial, they may appeal to the high court in the jurisdiction in which they were tried.
Decision to ban PTI will be made in parliament
On the other hand, Federal Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that PTI rioters crossed “red lines” on May 9 in a way that was never seen before in the history of Pakistan.
Talking to the media on the occasion of his visit to Lahore Corpse Commander House (Jinnah House), he said the events that happened on May 9 across the country have suggested that it was a kind of coup.
Khawaja Asif reiterated the decision to ban the PTI would be made in parliament after consultation with coalition parties.
Asif doubted that the public reaction always ensues spontaneously. He said that it was a “planned attack” on military installations. “It was a revolt against the state. There was no response to when someone attempted to murder Imran Khan.”
Across the worlds, there have been instances of attacks on civilian installations, but never has it happened that you attack and disrespect your martyrs’ memorials,” he maintained.
He questioned that there was no such reaction when Imran Khan was shot, so why did it happen upon his arrest?
“May 9 is a black day in our history when workers of a terrorist party burnt effigies of Quaid-e-Azam,” he hinted, adding that these people are not Pakistan, they must be Pakistani as per their passport.
“On May 9, not a single civilian installation was attacked. “This is unforgivable,” he added.
The PML-N leader said that he came to see the plight of Jinnah House. “It was brutally attacked on May 9.
Asif said that Imran Khan always targeted Pakistan Army in his statements. The attackers were not Pakistanis by religion and ideology.
“They didn’t spare even spare the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for our future,” Khawaja Asif said. “Insulting martyrs’ memorials is intolerable and unforgivable.”
There are hundreds of differences, but what happened on that day is beyond comprehension, added Khawaja.
Wherever the attack took place on May 9, the message was given to the world that the country was weakening.
