Arrest Arsonists Within 72-Hour: Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif As Imran Khan Seeks Probe Into Riots

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif blamed Imran Khan and his supporters for violence and ordered the agencies to put the perpetrators behind bars within 72 hours.

Pak Pm Shehbaz Sharfi (Left) and former PM Imran Khan (Right)

Source : PMLN Twitter | PTI

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the authorities to arrest all those who were involved in the violent clashes after Imran Khan’s arrest within 72 hours. In a tweet, he said that he has given the law enforcement agencies a target of 72 hours to arrest all those involved in facilitating, abetting and perpetrating the disgraceful incidents of arson, ransacking, sabotage & damaging public & private properties. 

“...All available resources including technological aid & intelligence are being deployed to chase down these elements. Bringing these people to justice is a test case for the government. Their cases will be tried by the anti-terrorism courts,” he further said in the tweet. 

I have given law enforcement apparatus a target of 72 hours to arrest all those involved in facilitating, abetting and perpetrating the disgraceful incidents of arson, ransacking, sabotage & damaging public & private properties. All available resources including technological aid…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 13, 2023

Meanwhile, former Pak PM and PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaaf) Chairman Imran Khan has sought an independent probe into the riots. In his first address after being released on bail, he called for an independent inquiry, under the Chief Justice of Pakistan, into the violence that took place while he was in “illegal” detention. 

[English subtitles]
Chairman Imran Khan has called for an independent inquiry, under the Chief Justice of Pakistan, into the violence that took place while he was in illegal detention. #SubtitledByPTI #PakistanUnderFascism pic.twitter.com/wXglCadCYN

— PTI USA Official (@PTIOfficialUSA) May 14, 2023

“I know, who wants to create anarchy in the country and take benefit of the tense situation,” Mr Khan asserted in an hour-long speech after the Islamabad High Court gave him relief in all 145 cases registered against him. Khan was speaking through video link from his Zaman Park residence on Saturday, reported Dawn. 

The former Pak premier said those ves­ted interest elements did take some benefit by putting PTI’s all senior leadership as well as around 3,500 workers behind bars. 

Pakistan news outlet The Dawn reported that PM Sharif blamed the PTI chief and his followers for arson and violent attacks and said, “The real culprits who showed this kind of enmity against the motherland should be arrested and produced in anti-terrorism courts under the relevant laws. These elements should be arrested immediately, without fear or favour”. 

“The cases of vandalism will be tried by anti-terrorism courts,” the premier said, adding that the law minister had been instructed to increase the number of such courts for the purpose, as quoted by Dawn. 

Shehbaz Sharif also alleged that PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his “armed followers” acted like the enemies of Pakistan. The prime minister said the whole nation, except Khan and his armed followers were “in an utter state of grief over the painful incidents”. 

Meanwhile, the Dawn mentioned, the caretaker Punjab government constituted a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the torching of the corps commander’s official residence, also known as Jinnah House.