A meeting of the National Security Committee lent its support to the decision of using the Army Act and Official Secrets Act to try people involved in the incidents of violence and arson on May 9.

Prime Ministers Shehbaz Sharif told the NSC that the events of May 9 were shameful and the people involved must be apprehended.

The NSC was convened to review the law and order situation in the country after protests in the wake of Imran Khan’s arrest. The army chief, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee as well as senior cabinet members were in attaendance

“We are forced to wonder what was the ideology, individual or group behind this attack,” he said.

He reiterated the need for action to be taken against those involved in the attack and called for a fair investigation into the matter. He said that even the prime minister’s orders should not lead to anyone being apprehneded or released.

Shehbaz added that he was ‘shocked’ to see that the not only had the Corp Commander House in Lahore been attacked but had been reduced to ashes. He added that the houses of the ‘protectprs’ of the nation had been attacked by protestors.

“Not only is this terrorism, but is something that even the enemies of Pakistan could not manage to do in 75 years,” he said.

The NSC meeting went on for four hours and included a review of the security situation across the country. Reports said that participants also agreed that action must be taken against May 9 perpetrators.

The meeting was told that over 5,000 people involved in the incidents of violence and vandalism have been identified and apprehended already.

The NSC also stressed the need for strict enforcement of social media regulations to foil ‘external conspiracies’ that might be facilitated from within Pakistan.

However, a statement issued after the meeting also expressed the need to solve political issues to be solved through dialogue as per ‘democratic values’ instead of clashes.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also briefed the country on the status of talks with the International Monetary Fund about the pending installment of the next bailout package.