Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers to stop their violent protests, saying the party has completed "what it had to do."
Bilawal said that he would not support the step to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) despite the party's resort to violent protests across the country and attacking state properties.
While addressing a press conference, he said, "I am not in favor of banning anyone." "To outlaw PTI, we must create a fully constitutional and legal method," he added.
He stated that the last measure would be to designate PTI as a proscribed organization.
In response to a query, Bilawal said, "A decision cannot be taken on television based on the video evidence that has come out so far."
Bilawal also urged the PTI members to stop their violent protests, saying the party has completed "what it had to do". PTI shouldn't do any more damage, he said. "They should formally end all violent protests and answer for their crimes," he suggested.
The foreign minister further stated that he wanted a result that would bring political stability to the nation.
He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was detained at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 9, adding that it was "another black day" in the history of the country.
"Several days in Pakistan's history have been designated as "Black Days," and now May 9 has been added to the list," he stated.
He said that the PPP has never celebrated the arrest of any political leader, adding that when political leaders are arrested, it is a loss for politics at large.
He further said that PTI had always supported the National Accountability Bureau and benefited from it, but his party had always been "against" the anti-graft body from the beginning.
Following Khan's arrest, violent riots broke out in the country on Tuesday, leaving dozens injured across multiple cities and protesters attacking military installations.
In Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, schools and workplaces were shuttered, and mobile data services were still suspended.
Earlier today, the Islamabad police announced that troops had arrived in the federal capital.
On Wednesday, in yet another ‘strongly worded’ press release, this time in Urdu, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said there "was and is prior planning" behind the attacks on military installations and facilities yesterday (Tuesday, May 9) after the arrest of former premier Imran Khan.
The ISPR press release states that "chairman PTI was taken into legal custody yesterday from the Islamabad High Court, according to NAB officials," in reference to Khan’s arrest. The military noted that immediately after Khan’s "legal" arrest, there were "organized attacks on army properties and installations, and anti-army slogans were raised".
"On the one hand, these evil elements vigorously stir up public sentiments to fulfill their limited and selfish goals, and on the other hand, they do not get tired of highlighting the importance of the army for the country while throwing dust in the eyes of the people. This is an example," the press release said.
"What the eternal enemy of the country could not do for seventy-five years, this group – wearing the garb of politics – has done in its lust for power".
The ISPR says that the "army showed extreme patience, tolerance, and restraint and, without caring about its own reputation, worked with extreme patience and endurance in the wider interest of the country".
"The facilitators, planners, and political activists involved in the rioting have been identified, and strict action will be taken against them in accordance with the law," the Pakistan army said, vowing that "all these evil elements will now be responsible for the consequences".
The ISPR warns that "any further attack on the army, including law enforcement agencies, military and state installations, and properties, will be severely retaliated against". The Pakistani military has said that all responsibility for such outcomes rests with "the very group that wants to push Pakistan into a civil war, which has expressed this desire and has repeatedly attacked the army".
"No one can be allowed to incite people and take the law into their hands," the ISPR statement concluded.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose supporters and sympathizers have been protesting violently and damaging state property across Pakistan following Imran Khan’s arrest on Tuesday, has denied any role in the recent acts of public disorder, claiming that the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement "did not reflect the reality of the situation on the ground."
On the other hand, the PTI issued a rebuttal on Thursday, claiming, "We are committed to pursuing our objectives without resorting to violence and in accordance with the law and the Constitution."
"PTI has always opposed breaking the law and the Constitution." "The PTI believed that both individuals and institutions had a responsibility to uphold the law," the statement read.
Bilawal said that he would not support the step to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) despite the party's resort to violent protests across the country and attacking state properties.
While addressing a press conference, he said, "I am not in favor of banning anyone." "To outlaw PTI, we must create a fully constitutional and legal method," he added.
He stated that the last measure would be to designate PTI as a proscribed organization.
In response to a query, Bilawal said, "A decision cannot be taken on television based on the video evidence that has come out so far."
Bilawal also urged the PTI members to stop their violent protests, saying the party has completed "what it had to do". PTI shouldn't do any more damage, he said. "They should formally end all violent protests and answer for their crimes," he suggested.
The foreign minister further stated that he wanted a result that would bring political stability to the nation.
He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was detained at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 9, adding that it was "another black day" in the history of the country.
"Several days in Pakistan's history have been designated as "Black Days," and now May 9 has been added to the list," he stated.
He said that the PPP has never celebrated the arrest of any political leader, adding that when political leaders are arrested, it is a loss for politics at large.
He further said that PTI had always supported the National Accountability Bureau and benefited from it, but his party had always been "against" the anti-graft body from the beginning.
Following Khan's arrest, violent riots broke out in the country on Tuesday, leaving dozens injured across multiple cities and protesters attacking military installations.
In Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, schools and workplaces were shuttered, and mobile data services were still suspended.
Earlier today, the Islamabad police announced that troops had arrived in the federal capital.
On Wednesday, in yet another ‘strongly worded’ press release, this time in Urdu, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said there "was and is prior planning" behind the attacks on military installations and facilities yesterday (Tuesday, May 9) after the arrest of former premier Imran Khan.
The ISPR press release states that "chairman PTI was taken into legal custody yesterday from the Islamabad High Court, according to NAB officials," in reference to Khan’s arrest. The military noted that immediately after Khan’s "legal" arrest, there were "organized attacks on army properties and installations, and anti-army slogans were raised".
"On the one hand, these evil elements vigorously stir up public sentiments to fulfill their limited and selfish goals, and on the other hand, they do not get tired of highlighting the importance of the army for the country while throwing dust in the eyes of the people. This is an example," the press release said.
"What the eternal enemy of the country could not do for seventy-five years, this group – wearing the garb of politics – has done in its lust for power".
The ISPR says that the "army showed extreme patience, tolerance, and restraint and, without caring about its own reputation, worked with extreme patience and endurance in the wider interest of the country".
"The facilitators, planners, and political activists involved in the rioting have been identified, and strict action will be taken against them in accordance with the law," the Pakistan army said, vowing that "all these evil elements will now be responsible for the consequences".
The ISPR warns that "any further attack on the army, including law enforcement agencies, military and state installations, and properties, will be severely retaliated against". The Pakistani military has said that all responsibility for such outcomes rests with "the very group that wants to push Pakistan into a civil war, which has expressed this desire and has repeatedly attacked the army".
"No one can be allowed to incite people and take the law into their hands," the ISPR statement concluded.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose supporters and sympathizers have been protesting violently and damaging state property across Pakistan following Imran Khan’s arrest on Tuesday, has denied any role in the recent acts of public disorder, claiming that the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement "did not reflect the reality of the situation on the ground."
On the other hand, the PTI issued a rebuttal on Thursday, claiming, "We are committed to pursuing our objectives without resorting to violence and in accordance with the law and the Constitution."
"PTI has always opposed breaking the law and the Constitution." "The PTI believed that both individuals and institutions had a responsibility to uphold the law," the statement read.