Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Wednesday announced he is willing to offer a “conditional” apology for the May 9 riots provided CCTV footage proves his party workers and leaders were involved in the violence.
In an informal interaction with journalists during a hearing of the £190 million case at Adiala Jail, where he remains incarcerated, Khan said he would only apologize if it were proven PTI workers and leaders were involved in the May 9, 2023 riots. Triggered by Khan’s arrest by Rangers at the Islamabad High Court, the rioters attacked civil and military installations across Pakistan, leading to a subsequent crackdown on the PTI that persists to this day.
In various press conferences, the military’s spokesman has said those responsible for the assault on military installations must unconditionally apologize to the nation. In recent weeks, Khan has appeared willing to meet the military halfway, admitting that he directed his party to “peacefully” protest outside military installations. However, his statements often muddy the water by alleging the riots were a “false flag” operation.
“I will personally sack and seek punishment for any PTI members who are found involved [in the May 9 riots],” he told journalists, lamenting that he was “dragged” by protests before the unrest. “Why is only the ISPR chief deserving of respect and not the leader of a political party?” he questioned. “There is no respect for a person popular in Pakistan and globally,” he said, adding “they” should feel obliged to apologize to him.
During his conversation with journalists, Khan also accepted that PTI workers had hurled petrol bombs at law enforcers outside his Zaman Park residence in Lahore. “We only used petrol bombs in Zaman Park, Lahore—nowhere else,” he said to a question about PTI activities allegedly using petrol bombs during the May 9 riots. He also reiterated that any office-holder of his party, if found involved in such incidents, should be prosecuted under law.
Discussing the recent press briefing by military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, in which he had accused “mafias” of funding an anti-Pakistan campaign, the PTI founder recalled that the military had “told us stories of corruption” by PMLN’s Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. “But the same people were imposed on the country after rigging the general elections,” he claimed.
Emphasizing that the Pakistan Army is a national institution, Khan said it was the responsibility of every Pakistani to defend it. To a question, he said he was seeking talks with the establishment for the sake of the country, adding if they weren’t interested in dialogue, he wouldn’t talk to them either.
On the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister of Bangladesh due to student-led protests, Khan claimed the situation in Pakistan was now worse than that of Bangladesh. He claimed he saw “something big” occurring in Pakistan on the back of the situation in Bangladesh
To a question on whether he still regarded Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rehman as his “hero” after the unrest, Khan said his past statements were in context of the findings of the Hamoodur Rehman Commission and not his personal observations. He also called for placing Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, Shehbaz Sharif and Mohsin Naqvi, along with himself, on the exit control list, as they may “flee” the country like the former Bangladesh premier otherwise.