The National Assembly passed on Monday the resolution to condemn the May 9 riots in which military installations and state buildings were attacked by violent protesters.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who moved the resolution during the assembly session, claimed that a party and its leader attacked the military installations on May 9.

Violent protests broke out across Pakistan after former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested from the court premises on May 9 in a graft case.

He called for “immediate punishment” for the perpetrators of the violent protest.

Asif said that dozens of fighter planes were present at the PAF’s Mianwali Air Base when the PTI protesters attacked the base. “They tried to torch those planes. But when they could not do that, they burned the dummy plane outside the base.”

The May 9 events prove that the PTI and its chief are on an anti-Pakistan agenda, he alleged, adding that despite the political parties’ disagreements with the military rulers in the past, they respect the martyrs’ memorials and defence installations.

“All those involved in attacking military installations should be tried under the Army Act 1952,” Asif added.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali opposed the resolution which called for the civilians’ trial in military courts.

“The perpetrators of the May 9 riots should be brought to justice, but not through military courts. The country has anti-terrorism courts for those accused of carrying out terrorist activities,” he added.

The religious party lawmaker was of the view that the trial of civilians in military courts was “okay” if the government accepts that courts and they have failed in holding perpetrators accountable.

He added that the JI was against civilians’ trials in the military courts. “We should be spared of the military courts.”