ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday announced he would move Pakistani courts to constitute a judicial commission to probe last week's countrywide protests, with no signs of tensions dissipating between the military and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The ex-premier spoke to his supporters after police cordoned off all roads leading to his Zaman Park residence in Lahore. Fearing another arrest, Khan wrote on Twitter that police have "surrounded his house."
Tensions between Pakistan's powerful military establishment and Khan escalated on May 9 after thousands of his supporters took to the streets in protest after the former premeir was arrested from a court in Islamabad on graft allegations. Enraged supporters vandalized a senior army officer's residence in Lahore, smashed buses, and attacked military installations.
“No investigation or independent inquiry was conducted [into the May 9 protests], and it was suddenly decided that PTI is a terrorist party,” Khan said in his address to party supporters. “This was a complete conspiracy and they did it with a planning.”
The former premier said his party had evidence that "unknown persons" were inserted among crowds of his supporters to carry out violent attacks.
“We now have all the evidence. We are moving the court now that a judicial commission be constituted,” Khan said, without specifying which court he meant. “Investigation should be carried out to determine how a party that in its long struggle never resorted to violence [all of a sudden did so]."
Khan took aim at the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government, blaming it for pitting the PTI against Pakistan's military. He alleged that over 7,500 PTI supporters, including women, were arrested in a crackdown against his party.
Khan said that during his political struggle, he never issued an anti-army statement or incited his supporters to violence. “If a proper investigation is carried out, we will know who was behind it [May 9 violence]. Who wanted to use it to ban a party,” he added.
Angered by the protests, Pakistan's army announced it would try the violent protesters under military laws, following which key PTI leaders including Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Ali Haider Zaidi, and Aamer Mehmood Kiani condemned the protests in strong words. Kiani and another leader, Sanjay Gangwani, announced they were quitting the PTI.
Khan spoke about the development, saying that the strategy would not succeed as his party enjoys overwhelming popularity among the masses.
“The only purpose of all this fear and harassment is to silence the people,” he said.
On Wednesday afternoon, Caretaker Information Minister of Punjab Amir Mir said that as per intelligence reports, “30-40 terrorists” responsible for recent attacks on military properties were hiding at Khan's Lahore residence. He urged the PTI to hand over the alleged militants to the government within 24 hours.
Khan denied he was sheltering militants in his house.
“Don’t take matters ahead further just to provide benefit to the PDM,” he warned Mir. “Still there is time, be wise, talk, and resolve the issue.”
