Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday passed a resolution to condemn “shameless inci-dents” on May 9 and expressed solidarity with armed forces in the wake of attacks on martyrs’ mon-uments and defence installations almost across the country following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest in a corruption case earlier this month.
The resolution tabled by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif backed the civil-military leadership’s decision to try rioters under relevant laws of the country including the Pakistan Army Act.
It said the lower house of parliament “vehemently condemned the shocking, brazen, heart-wrenching and shameless incidents which took place in certain parts of the country on the 9th May 2023”.
The house also expressed its full faith in and complete solidarity and support for the Armed Forces of Pakistan.
The resolution reiterated to observe May 9 as ‘Black Day’— a reference to the unprecedented nearly three days-long violent protests by the PTI supporters following their leader Imran Khan’s arrest.
At least eight people were killed and dozens of others left injured during the countrywide riots with internet services remaining suspended for almost 72 hours in the country.
In yesterday’s session, the legislators also demanded that all abettors, planners, facilitators and those directly or indirectly involved in arson attacks on military installations as well as public and private properties should be prosecuted under the existing laws of the country including the Anti-terrorism Act 1997, Army Act 1952 and Pakistan Penal Code 1860.
Moreover, the resolution urged all relevant authorities to implement social media rules and regula-tions in order to tackle propaganda being unleashed against the country’s institutions, both from with-in and outside of Pakistan, “under the patronage and facilitation from multiple players”.
“Those involved in such propaganda campaigns should strictly be dealt with as per law,” it added.
The resolution reiterated commitment to national unity, harmony and integrity in the wake of the cur-rent geostrategic situation and deprecate all anti-state elements which attempt to destabilise the country.
“…[the] resolution of all political issues must always stay within the realm of parliamentary and demo-cratic norms and resorting to violence against state institutions, public and private properties is totally unacceptable,” it added.
