ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said on Sunday that the May 9 attacks involving supporters of ex-PM Imran Khan were an “attempt toward mutiny or civil war,” adding that its target was Pakistan’s serving army chief and his team.
Violent protests broke out in many parts of the country on May 9 after Khan was briefly arrested on graft allegations. Enraged Khan supporters attacked government buildings and military installations, including the official residence of a serving senior army official as they blamed the army for Khan’s arrest.
After initially claiming the attack was in response to his detention, Khan claimed his supporters had largely remained peaceful and the violence was pre-planned and perpetuated by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies in their bid to clamp down on his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
“According to my assessment, this was indeed an attempt toward mutiny or civil war,” Kakar said during his first exclusive interview with a private news channel.
“I think its target as a nucleus was the serving army chief and the team around him. All of them.”
Dozens of top and mid-tier leaders in the PTI have been arrested alongside hundreds of Khan supporters since May 9. Many quit the party after being released while other leaders remain on the run to avoid arrest. Khan— behind bars on corruption allegations— himself faces a slew of cases, including one for leaking state secrets, which carries the death sentence.
When asked why the government had not arrested others involved in the May 9 attacks nor ensured progress regarding the cases of those already imprisoned, Kakar said the caretaker government did not want to come across as one focused on exacting revenge.
“The due process of law will take place,” he said.
On the issue of general elections in Pakistan, the prime minister said it was the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) prerogative to announce the date for polls.
“The law of the land says that the Election Commission of Pakistan has to decide [the date],” he said.
Kakar, however, said that if the matter goes to the superior judiciary, then its decision would be “binding” on the government.
Pakistan’s PM terms May 9 attacks an ‘attempt towards civil war’
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Pakistan’s PM terms May 9 attacks an ‘attempt towards civil war’
- Pakistan’s serving army chief, and his team were target of May 9 attacks, says PM Kakar
- PM Kakar says Pakistan’s election regulator would decide date for upcoming elections
Pakistan, China call for more ‘visible, verifiable’ actions to dismantle ‘terrorist’ groups in Afghanistan
- Foreign ministers of China, Pakistan co-chair seventh round of strategic dialogue in Beijing to review bilateral cooperation, regional situation
- Pakistan accuses Kabul of facilitating attacks launched by militant outfits from Afghanistan’s soil, a charge Kabul has repeatedly denied
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Monday urged Afghanistan to take more visible actions to dismantle “terrorist organizations” based in its country, vowing to work with world powers to encourage Kabul to adopt moderate policies and integrate into the international community.
Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain strained as Islamabad alleges militant outfits, mainly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group, uses Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban government of facilitating these attacks against Pakistan, charges Kabul have repeatedly denied.
The joint statement by China and Pakistan was released after a meeting of both countries’ foreign ministers, Ishaq Dar and Wang Yi, in Beijing. Dar and his Chinese counterpart co-chaired the Seventh Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing on Jan. 4 where they reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, economic sectors, counterterrorism, defense and regional matters.
“The two sides called for more visible and verifiable actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organizations based in Afghanistan which continue to pose serious threats to regional and global security, and prevent terrorist organizations from using the Afghan territory for terrorism against any other country and to endanger any other country,” the statement read.
The joint statement said the two countries will work with world powers to encourage Kabul to adopt an inclusive political framework, moderate policies, and pursue good neighborliness.
On bilateral cooperation, China and Pakistan said they had agreed to focus on industry, agriculture and mining, and also promote the building and operation of the Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan.
“The two sides will deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, information technology, science and technology, cybersecurity, technical and vocational training and education, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges,” the statement said.
“The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the financial and banking sectors, including extending mutual support at regional and international multilateral financial forums. Pakistan appreciated China for providing support for its fiscal and financial sectors.”
The joint statement said China commended Pakistan’s “comprehensive measures” to combat “terrorism” and protect Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in the country.
“The two sides reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with zero tolerance, and agreed to further deepen all-round cooperation on counter-terrorism and security, and make concerted efforts to ensure that the China-Pakistan Belt and Road cooperation advance in a secure and smooth manner,” the statement said.
Pakistan and China expressed their willingness to conduct a transboundary water resources cooperation, stressing the importance of fulfilling international legal obligations. The statement comes as Pakistan frequently accuses India of violating a water-sharing agreement between the two neighbors, claiming New Delhi purposefully diverts the flow of water away from its territory.
Islamabad has warned that any move by New Delhi to stop or divert the flow of Indus rivers to Pakistan will be considered an “act of war.”
Pakistan and China also demanded an unconditional, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza in their joint statement, reaffirming their support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for the implementation of a two-state solution in the Middle East.
“The two sides also expressed their concern at the situation in the occupied West Bank, and urged the need for urgently addressing it,” the statement said.
