UPDATE - Pakistan’s premier vows to punish those attempting to undermine country’s foundation

REVISES HEADLINE, UPDATES WITH RALLIES

By Islamuddin Sajid and Aamir Latif

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed Thursday that there would be no "soft-pedaling" of the May 9 riots last year and "no absolution" for those who orchestrated and supported the attempt to undermine the country’s foundation.

The ruling alliance parties and the country's powerful military establishment observed May 9 as "Black Day," while jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party called it a "false flag operation" against its supporters and holding demonstrations across the South Asian nation.

"Let not the shadows of lies hide the light of truth one year ago today. Not only were symbols of our national pride and honor attacked, but the sanctity of our sacred homeland was also assaulted," Sharif said on X.

Hundreds of people were arrested when violence broke out on May 9, 2023 after Khan was briefly apprehended in a corruption case at the Islamabad High Court.

"There can absolutely be no soft-pedaling of what happened on May 9, and there can be no absolution for those who orchestrated, supported, and assisted the attempt to damage the foundations of our nation," Sharif added.

The country's military also issued a statement condemning the criminal acts committed on May 9, which it dubbed "Black Day."

"On this one of the darkest days in our national history, politically motivated and brainwashed miscreants in an act of rebellion deliberately resorted to violence against state institutions and vandalized sacred symbols of the state and the sites belonging to national heritage," it said.

"The Pakistan Armed Forces thwarted the insidious conspiracy by the planners, facilitators and executors who wanted to destabilize Pakistan by inciting confrontation between the people and the Armed Forces," it added.

The PTI held protest rallies in various cities including Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Dir, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Dera Ismail Khan and Faisalabad. Pro-army rallies were also held across the country denouncing the May 9 violence.

The party’s biggest showing was held in Dera Ismail Khan district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which was attended by thousands of party supporters.

Addressing the rally, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, who belongs to the PTI, demanded an "amnesty" for May 9 suspects to "move forward."

He said the PTI’s chairman is ready to apologize for the May 9 incidents if his party is found guilty in an "impartial inquiry."

According to the PTI, Islamabad and Rawalpindi police did not allow its workers to gather and to rally toward Adiala Jail, where Khan is imprisoned. Videos on social media showed police also arresting PTI interim Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan in Islamabad.

Since May 9, the PTI has faced a crackdown, with thousands of its workers reported to be imprisoned and several key leaders leaving the party.

Some of them faced military trials, and Khan is currently on trial in several cases.

The PTI denies involvement in attacks on public and private property and claims that the violence on May 9 was a conspiracy against the party.

"The false flag operation on May 9 which tried to crush the PTI was all pre-planned," Khan said in a message from jail.

"The nation should be told on whose order I was abducted from the Islamabad High Court by paramilitary armed forces on May 9 last year," he said in a statement posted on X.

On Tuesday, Pakistani military spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmed Sharif demanded that Khan apologize for the violent riots on May 9 and distance his party from the protest.

However, Khan on Wednesday rejected the demand for an apology, saying that it should be “sought from them.”

Omar Ayub Khan, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, called the military spokesman’s press conference against the PTI an "open interference in the political affairs of the country” and a negation of the oath he took as a cadet at the military academy.

"The whole world knows that 9th May was a 'False Flag Operation' against PTI," Khan said on X.