Jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has refused to apologize for the May 9 riots a day after the military-ruled out holding dialogue with those involved in last year\u2019s violent protests.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy should I tender apology, it should be sought from me,\u201d the deposed prime minister said during an informal conversation with journalists in Rawalpindi\u2019s Adiala Jail on Wednesday where he has been incarcerated since August last year after he was booked in a number of cases ranging from corruption to violating Official Secrets Act.<\/p>\n
The PTI founder was responding to a question related to Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Tuesday\u2019s press conference wherein he demanded “those involved in the May 9 violent protests to apologize” and shun politics of \u201canarchy\u201d before holding any dialogue.<\/p>\n
The chief military spokesperson also denied having a conversation with people who have attacked military sites and disrespected the nation’s martyrs throughout the lengthy press conference.<\/p>\n
Additionally, he had stated that the May 9 accused and their perpetrators will have to face legal and constitutional penalties.<\/p>\n
The events of May 9 pertain to the violent riots that ensued after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in a corruption case from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the previous year.<\/p>\n
Alleged PTI supporters stormed military sites across the nation and caused damage to both private and public property during the rallies.<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s interaction with journalists, the PTI founder distanced his party from the violent protests, saying that the party never resorted to violence in its history of 27 years.<\/p>\n
He added that he didn’t learn about the May 9 riots until he was brought before Umar Ata Bandial, the chief justice at the time, in the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
\u201cI condemned the May 9 incidents in front of [former] chief justice Umar Ata Bandial,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Khan said neither he was interested in striking any \u201cdeal\u201d nor wanted to go abroad and flee the country.<\/p>\n
He also referred to the Capitol riots in the United States in 2021, saying that suspects involved in the Capitol attack were sentenced after being identified through CCTV footage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile here [in Pakistan] the CCTV footage disappeared,\u201d he said pointing towards the investigation into the May 9 violence.<\/p>\n
Khan also backed DG ISPR Maj Gen Chaudhry\u2019s call to hold the judicial inquiry into the 2014 sit-in staged by the PTI against the alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.<\/p>\n
“I’m prepared to answer questions about the 2014 sit-in. I would be delighted to testify before a committee of inquiry. “Every accusation made against me concerning the 2014 sit-in is untrue,” he continued.<\/p>\n
In the same conversation, the PTI founder said, “The army is ours and we have no problem with the army.” \u201cFor God’s sake, do not drag the military into politics.\u201d<\/p>\n