Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in an address to the National Security Meeting, Tuesday vowed that the planners and leaders of the May 9 events, who attacked military installations and “disrespected our martyrs”, will be punished and brought to justice.
“Our nation of 22 billion has demanded that those who are sinful, in any regard, should be punished so that such an incident does not take place ever again,” he said.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza were also present at the meeting.
“From May 9 onwards, some gruesome events have taken place, which have shamed Pakistan and which have brought a lot of disgrace and infamy. Whatever happened on May 9 in this country, it will be remembered as the darkest chapter in this country’s history,” PM said.
“All of us are compelled to think that what was the ideology, group or person behind setting on fire the love of Pakistan. Jinnah House is not just a building … it housed the sons that protected Pakistan. But they destroyed it — in fact, reduced it to ashes.”
PM Sharif called for chalking out measures — legal, constitutional and administrative — to prevent a repeat of the May 9 events.
Addressing a high-level moot attended by the top brass of the military, the premier asserted that violent protests of May 9 severely damaged Pakistan and “billions of people are angry and upset even today”.
“I believe that the NSC meeting today expresses solidarity with the Pakistan Army, condemns these incidents and law will take its course … no one will be given undue punishment but those who are guilty won’t be spared.”
“I believe that whoever planned this and incited the vandalism … they are certainly guilty of terrorism, but they also managed to do what Pakistan’s eternal enemy could not do in the last 75 years.”
“They went to the GHQ, the airbase in Mianwali and the ISI’s office in Faisalabad … we never saw such a heinous scheme [playout] in the last 75 years.”
The National Security Committee (NSC) has strongly condemned the violent incidents on May 9 and agreed to bring those responsible to justice, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
According to the sources, the participants of the NSC meeting, convened by the Prime Minister Shehbaz being held in Islamabad on Tuesday, condemned in the strongest terms the violent incidents of May 9 after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.
Besides the chiefs of the armed forces, the meeting is being attended by senior civil and military officials.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir was also present during the meeting, as are heads of the Navy and Air Force.
The gathering expressed to show "zero tolerance" for the rioters involved in the arson and violent protests.
The meeting was briefed that all incidents were done by the miscreants of a political party as per the planned design.
They also severely criticized the external and internal propaganda against the institutions.
The meeting was briefed that the violence was perpetrated by extremist elements of a political party under a well-thought-out plan. Videos and evidence of the incidents are present, and over 5,000 culprits responsible for the arson and violence have been arrested.
The prime minister said that May 9 will be remembered as a ‘black day’. “Those who attack military and government installations and buildings do not deserve any concession,” he added.
“We will not allow anyone to put the country's peace and stability at stake,” the PM vowed.
Shehbaz Sharif said that the entire nation stands with the armed forces.
The sources said that the meeting was told that the propaganda against the Pakistan Army is a conspiracy to eliminate the connection between the forces and the people.
“The negative propaganda will be defeated through the support of the masses, the NSC hinted.
The sources said the meeting also deliberated on options for deciding cases against the extremists at the earliest.
There was consensus on dealing with the anti-state elements in accordance with the law.
The NSC expressed complete solidarity with the armed forces.
The forum also lauded the recent intelligence-based operations. It also emphasized the need for strict implementation of social media rules and regulations.