Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directs concerned authorities to arrest all culprits and attackers behind the vandalism at the Jinnah House and military and civil installations within 72 hours.
The prime minister issued these directives while chairing a meeting at the Punjab Safe City Authority Headquarters in Lahore.
“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 used to catch down the culprits.
While regretting the destruction of the Safe City Project during PTI govt, the PM Shehbaz Sharif said: “I am deeply disturbed by this situation, and I would like to request the chief minister to take immediate action.”
“It is incredibly disheartening that the Safe City system, designed to protect citizens, has suffered due to criminal negligence,” he added.
“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 9th May violence triggered by PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest, Premier 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 9th May. Corps Commander House is the historic Jinnah House and seeing it [in such a condition] is disheartening,” said the PM.
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 also 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 after Imran Khan arrest.
Remember that, Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan arrested by NAB and taken into custody by Rangers from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the Al-Qadir Trust Case.
After his arrest Protests erupted across the country. PTI workers held protests in cities across the country, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Mardan. PTI protestors barged into the Jinnah House, which is the residence of Lahore corps commander, demanding the release of their leader.
Reacting to the vandalism by protestors, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued statement on 9th May — the day when chaos gripped the nation — would go down in history as a “dark chapter”.
“Soon after [Khan’s arrest], there were organized attacks on army properties and installations and anti-army slogans were raised,” the military’s media wing said.
The PTI, however, denied involvement in the violence that ensued terming ISPR statement “against ground realities”.
“We believe in achieving our goals by remaining peaceful, non-violent, and adhering to the Constitution and law. PTI has always discouraged deviance from the Constitution and law,” a statement released by the party read.
