PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui has said that ‘perhaps’ the May 9 issue was taken properly by neither politicians nor the army.

“There could be a shortcoming, but I think overall, there is no doubt that there could be our mistake, however, the army perhaps not taken up this issue with that intensity or passion on media,” he said while appearing on Aaj Exclusive which was aired on Aaj News on Saturday.

He was responding to a question related to the politician forces’ apparent failure to come up with a counter-narrative against the PTI.

Several people vandalised state buildings and military installations on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in a graft case.

While responding to the query, he said agreed that civilian forces did not work well enough after the incidents that he described as “rebellion”.

According to Siddiqui, attacking military installations and sensitive buildings was a revolt. He added that the court decisions have halted the action against the people involved in such activities.

He was of the view that such events were taken as “rebellion” and admitted that the political parties had not endured the actions on May 9.

The PML-N senator admitted that the political parties did not give any counter-narrative to the actions of PTI a year ago. But he added that the results of February 8 have overwhelmed the May 9.

He wondered about the people who were allegedly involved in such events and contested elections.

“I don’t think that now after February 8, you can take big actions related to May 9.”

In the interview, he said during party meetings he had taken the impression that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif did not intend to become the PM for the fourth time.

He admitted that the party should have taken more seats in Parliament and added that the party did not project its performance during the 16 months of the Pakistan Democratic Movement well to the people.

Siddiqui described the PTI as the “biggest opposition” in recent times, saying that Imran Khan’s party would be the biggest party in the Senate and it should play that role in Parliament.

He further dispelled the impression that a couple of members of the cabinet were not appointed on the decision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

When asked, he admitted that the party’s media strategy was not solid before the elections and failed to bring voters out on voting day.