'Act Of Terror': Maryam Says May 9 Riots Were Planned At Zaman Park

'Act Of Terror': Maryam Says May 9 Riots Were Planned At Zaman Park
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz said on Friday that May 9 riots were not 'spontaneous', rather they had been planned at Imran Khan's Zaman Park residence.

"This did not happen suddenly," Maryam told party workers gathered in Vihari. "This was an act of terror planned at Zaman Park."

The PML-N leader went on to add that the PTI chief didn't plan attacks on army installations in isolation, saying his "facilitators" were also onboard.

"It was an open rebellion against Pakistan Army and Imran [Khan] was the leader of this act," she said.

She lamented that while Khan's workers were facing prison sentences, the man who instilled 'hatred in their minds' was roaming free.

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A day earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif termed the May 9 army installation attacks part of a planned and coordinated strategy, saying it accounted for a rebellion of the state.

He told Al Jazeera in an interview that the messages that were running on social media and on phones were directing rioters or PTI workers to go to Corps Commander’s House in Lahore, GHQ, ISI office in Faisalabad, and the airbase in Mianwali.

May 9 mayhem

Riots broke out in multiple cities as PTI workers engaged in scuffles with law enforcers after Imran Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court premises on Tuesday.

The party called for protests shortly after the arrest, with people taking to the streets and blocking the thoroughfares.

A mob attempted to barge into GHQ, while some were seen kicking and slamming the gate. Also, Corps Commander Lahore’s residence was attacked and the premises was put on fire by violent protesters.

Another group, apparently of protesters, was seen gathering outside the Frontier Corps headquarters in Peshawar, in an apparent gesture of an attack.

In another instance, caught on camera, military vehicles were seen being pelted with stones by another mob at the scene.