Islamabad, May 10, 2023: A day after former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested which followed by violent protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday warned those taking the law into to their own hands to abide by the law otherwise they will be dealt with an iron fist.
“Imran Khan and PTI caused severe damages to sensitive installations of the country. Such scene had never been witnessed in 75 years. Many lives were endangered. Even ambulances were set on fire. Swat motorway was set on fire. Like enemy, installations of armed forces were attacked,” he said in a televised address to the nation.
The prime minister said that PTI managed to do what the enemy couldn’t in the past 75 years, adding that even the court declared Imran’s arrest as legal.
“I urge miscreants to abide by law otherwise they will face strict action. No one will be allowed to conspire against Pakistan. We will never let this conspiracy succeed,” he warned.
The address followed the recent arrest of ex-prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, which has further exacerbated the instability in the country.
Earlier in the day, the government warned that strict action against protesters, who break the law, would be taken and stressed “such actions will not be tolerated”.
“Whoever takes the law in their hand is neither Pakistani nor a citizen of Pakistan,” said Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in a statement as she regretted the manner in which “government buildings and houses were attacked and state property was damaged”.
The development comes a day after ex-PM Imran was arrested by the Rangers paramilitary force at the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Despite protests erupting across the country condemning the arrest, the government has backed the development maintaining it was in accordance with law.
In an appalling incident of vandalism never witnessed before in the country’s political history, the historic corps commander’s house in Lahore which also served as residence of the founding father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was attacked by PTI supporters on Tuesday hours after Imran Khan’s arrest by the Rangers personnel in Islamabad.
Later, all roads leading to the Corps Commander House, Assembly and sensitive areas were closed.
On Wednesday, audio leaks surfaced on social media, indicating that the leadership of the PTI was allegedly involved in the attack on the residence of Lahore Corps Commander.
The purported audio clips reveal that PTI leaders had urged party workers to gather at the Jinnah House and they “rejoiced” about the damage caused during telephone calls.
“We have destroyed the entire Corp Commander House and ended their story,” Ali Chaudhry could be allegedly heard telling Ejaz Chaudhry in one of the audio recordings.
Due to the unprecedented situation, the interim provincial governments requisitioned army troops to maintain law and order in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
At least five protesters have been reported dead as the protests turned violent, with several others injured. At least three policemen were also seriously injured in clashes with PTI supporters in Peshawar.
Officials at Edhi Foundation reported two deaths in Lahore while another three were reported in Peshawar.