Federal ministers said on Thursday that the nation should be aware of the sponsors of the May 9 riots when protesters vandalised state buildings and military installations following former prime minister Imran Khan’s arrest.

At a press conference in Islamabad, Asif said the accountability of the perpetrators of May 9 mayhem would reach to its logical conclusion as it was a matter of “sanctity of the martyrs’ and 240 million Pakistanis’ pride” in their armed forces.

He was accompanied by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.

The defence minister termed the attacks on military installations as tantamount to country enmity. “The armed forces and civil law enforcement agencies are fighting the war for the country’s survival and rendering sacrifices every day during the ongoing war on terror.”

He accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of deliberately damaging the prestige of the state institution under its “inimical” motive. The defence minister alleged that the PTI made the army chief’s appointment controversial whereas the appointment was the only prerogative of the prime minister.

“I have been four times part of the process as the defence minister which was never influenced by any entity as it was the then PML-N government’s vision to appoint the most decorated soldier as the Army Chief,” he said.

According to Asif, the PTI former chairman orchestrated a new narrative of “absolutely not, and no to slavery” but his party leaders were meeting with the US ambassador and hiring lobbyists to beseech them for relief. The defence minister also lambasted the PTI lawmakers for obstructing proceedings of the House under their political motives to benefit their detained party founder.

He accused the PTI for hatching out the conspiracy against the state institutions in the past years and termed it as a planned activity and not an abrupt or new move.

“The PTI is a political force in Parliament and they claim that forced statements were made by deflected PTI leaders whereas the latter categorically stated Imran Khan was not listening to them. January 6, Capitol Hill attack perpetrators and rioters were charged with penalties under special legislation, whereas the facilitators and the leaders were also taken to task in the United States of America,” he added.

When asked, he said the political parties would have to hold dialogue with each other whereas the state institution has decided to stay away from politics then it should not be dragged by any party into the process.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar urged the judiciary to take May 9 cases to a logical end.

He said that the evidence in the May 9 cases was “clear and the identity” of the attackers was known. Even it was clear who entered inside various buildings and who stood outside and gave instructions, he the minister added.

Tarar alleged that Imran Khan’s three sisters were involved in the May 9 attacks but none of them was booked.

PM Shehbaz rules out pardons

The federal cabinet met on Thursday to mark one year since the May 9 riots. It discussed the content of an investigation report into the events that unfolded on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the plan for May 9 was an organized conspiracy, aimed at spreading chaos, cutting the economic lifeline of the country, and plotting to end democracy. Without understanding the consequences of their corrupt intentions, they attacked their own identity, he said.

Leaders of coalition parties, including Sherry Rehman, Khalid Maqbool, and Aijazul Haq, also attended the special meeting of the cabinet held at the Parliament House.

An agreement regarding May 9 was reached in the session.

The report of an investigative committee comprising federal ministers was presented, stating that undeniable video evidence exists against the leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

The report recommended changes in laws for swift decisions in cases and suggested that attacking government institutions should be considered a serious crime. The Ministry of Law also presented a white paper.

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While addressing the meeting, the prime minister said that today is a day to separate the politics sacrificing the state and attacking the state for politics.

The prime minister said that the nation and history will never forgive the perpetrators of the May 9 tragedy. A year has passed, but the nation and Pakistan have not forgotten their criminals and will never forget them, he said.

PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan, the great martyrs, their heirs, and the nation have vowed that May 9 will never happen again.