Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that no new military courts will be established for trying those responsible for attacking the military installations during violent protests on May 9.

“No new military courts are being established. Law is already present at this time. Courts are present and they have been working for the past 75 years continuously,” he said at a press conference in Sialkot on Sunday.

The defence minister added that the government was not “snatching anyone’s basic rights”. Cases would be pursued against individuals whose “footage, faces and identity is present that they are attacking military installations,” Asif said.

In response to a query, he called for treating the attackers of military installations as enemies of the country are treated according to the law.

“I don’t doubt on the patriotism of anyone, but the intention of those who attacked army installations on May 9 raises a question on their intention relationship with this soil,” he said.

The defence minister went on to add that power was not permanent and they have “never raised the question” on their relationship with the country’s military.

“It is time for the entire nation to unite and express its gratitude to Pakistan’s forces and strengthen this relationship,” he said.