Pakistan army vows no restraint on mobs attacking its property

Islamabad: Pakistan’s army said “restraint will no longer be exercised” on groups attacking military installations, vowing to take legal action against those who damaged property after former premier Imran Khan’s dramatic arrest last week. “The Armed Forces are well aware of the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of these attacks and attempts to create distortions in this regard are absolutely futile,” the military said in a statement late Monday without naming anyone.

“Those involved in these heinous crimes against the military installations and personal/equipment will be brought to justice through trials under relevant laws of Pakistan including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act.”

The military’s sharp reaction marks another escalation in an ongoing showdown between Pakistan’s most powerful institution and Khan, who was arrested by an anti-graft agency and later released by the Supreme Court. His detention sparked widespread anger among his supporters and some groups breached the military headquarters while others set fire to a military commander’s official residence.

At least eight people were killed and scores more arrested, including close aides and political associates of Khan.

No direct reference was made to Khan in Monday’s statement but in the days leading to his arrest by paramilitary troops, the army criticized him for accusing the institution of being behind at least two assassination attempts, including a shooting incident in November. The military has consistently denied the allegations.

Khan’s party denied its supporters vandalized army property.

“We also believe that those involved in terrorism against the state must be punished but it is very important that they should be correctly identified,” Shafqat Mahmood, a senior leader in Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party said by phone. “There were people in the crowd who were not our supporters. Clearly they were outsiders.”

Verdict reserved on Khan’s bail plea

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on the petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan — the day after his arrest in the Al Qadir Trust case — seeking pre-arrest bail in every case filed against him since then, Geo News reported.

In the backdrop of protests sparked following Khan’s arrest in the infamous land corruption case, other cases were also filed against the former prime minister.

Meanwhile, the court enquired about the PTI chief’s absence at the beginning of the session to which Khan’s attorney responded that his client would show up in court by 11 am.

The interim government of Punjab’s lawyer had opposed the bail request of Imran Khan, claiming it was inadmissible. The lawyer said, “Imran Khan hasn’t even appeared in the court and seeking protective bail,” as per Geo News.

Responding to this, Khan’s lawyer argued that the PTI chief was seeking pre-arrest bail and not protective bail and also requested the court to send the case to a larger bench.

Notably, Khan had filed a plea on Saturday, a day after being released on bail from Islamabad High Court (IHC), against all new cases registered against him.

The plea stated, “I am being politically victimised. There is a risk of arrest as police have nominated me in several cases,” according to Geo News.

Punjab Inspector general and advocate general are the PTI chief’s respondents in the case.

Khan was getting his biometrics done at IHC last week when he was arrested in a dramatic fashion. On orders from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan Rangers forcibly arrested the former cricket star and took him away in a black Rivo.

No plan to impose ban on PTI: Minister

Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday said that the coalition government had no plan to ban the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) but action would be taken against the violators of the law.

The government would take every step against those who were found involved in provocative activity reported on May 9, he said.

Imran Khan, he said was responsible for all such indecent activities. The PTI women supporters were also found attacking and damaging public property, he said.

In reply to a question about the wife of Imran Khan, he said that the lady was well aware of Imran’s planning. He said that PTI leaders had mistreated the daughter of Nawaz Sharif and Zardari’s sister Talpur.

This was our duty to expose corrupt practices and corruption committed by the last regime of Imran’s party, he said.

We will take legal action as per the law of this country, he warned.

To a question about Army act being applied against the violators of law, he said, we didn’t decide yet which law would be suitable for punishing lawbreakers.

However, he said that this was not our mission to put Imran behind bars. To a question, he said Imran Khan didn’t condemn attacks on national institutions. All the leaders of PTI had evolved strategy before sabotaging the peace of this country, he said. The cases would be registered against the responsible elements as per law, he said.