Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday set a 72-hour deadline for law enforcement agencies to arrest those who were involved in different “abhorrent and unpardonable” incidents of vandalism, attacks and arson of May 9, inflicting massive damages to public and private properties across Punjab province.
Addressing a meeting during his visit to Punjab Safe Cities Authority, he directed the concerned to immediately apprehend those who burnt various buildings and infrastructure, including the historic Jinnah (Corps commander) house.
Expressing grief over the painful incidents, the Prime Minister noted that the entire nation was in a state of sorrow, with the exception of Imran Niazi and his armed followers. He likened their actions to those of enemies of Pakistan, stating that no patriotic Pakistani could ever engage in such actions or planning.
The Prime Minister emphasized that those responsible for the violent and destructive acts must be arrested and face the full force of the law in accordance with relevant legal and constitutional provisions.
He also called for an increase in the number of anti-terrorism courts in the province to ensure that legal proceedings against these culprits take place expeditiously.
The Prime Minister further stated that he had issued clear directives during a meeting in Islamabad that all individuals involved, planned, abetted, and facilitated the attacks must be dealt with sternly. They would be brought to trial in anti-terrorism courts, and he had already instructed the law minister to increase the number of these courts.
“It is time to do or die or now or never. The real culprits who showed this kind of enmity against the motherland should be arrested and produced in anti-terrorism courts under the relevant laws. These elements should be arrested immediately, without fear or favour,” he added.
The meeting was attended by Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Syed Moshin Naqvi and other relevant officials.
The prime minister expressed his dismay at the terrible incidents that occurred on May 9 in Pakistan, particularly the destruction of the Corps Commander (Jinnah House) which was a painful sight to behold.
He noted that in the 75 years of the country’s history, the enemy had never inflicted such harm or accomplished its evil dreams. Unfortunately, on May 9, armed groups under Imran Niazi’s supervision, planning, and instigation, set Jinnah House on fire, reducing it to ashes, and harming the historic articles inside.
He expressed regret that such a dreadful day had occurred, and vowed to make sure that those who were involved in this abhorrent act would face criminal proceedings. The people who made plans and armed their rioters with weapons and batons to attack law enforcement personnel and buildings would be dealt with firmly, so that they could serve as a permanent example to all those who might act against Pakistan.
The prime minister acknowledged the sacrifices of the armed forces and law enforcement personnel who had given their lives to thwart the enemies’ designs in past wars and the fight against terrorism, resulting in the loss of about 80,000 Pakistani lives, including officers, personnel, police, and paramilitary forces. He condemned the defilement of shuhada (martyrs) and their monuments by PTI rioters, calling it a heart-wrenching sight that should never have happened. He demanded that the armed groups responsible for the attacks should be dealt with severely so that no one would dare to repeat such actions.
The prime minister mentioned that the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, established under Nawaz Sharif’s leadership during his tenure as Khadim-e-Ala Punjab, was the most advanced and significant institution in the entire South Asia, with about 12 billion rupees spent on it. He criticized the PTI government for its negligence in maintaining the institution over the past five years, resulting in malfunctioning cameras and a sorry state of affairs.
