PTI demands judicial commission to identify, punish culprits behind May 9 riots

ISLAMABAD: The PTI has demanded the formation of an independent judicial commission to conduct a “transparent, impartial and credible probe” into the events of May 9, to bring the suspects to justice.

The party has termed May 9, 2023, “one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s political history”, when former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. He is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where he is regularly denied meetings with family members and party leaders.

In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram asserted that the PTI founder’s arrest not only violated the sanctity of the judiciary but also set “a dangerous precedent of state repression and authoritarianism”.

“This action was an open violation of the Constitution, the law, and fundamental human rights,” Akram stressed, demanding the immediate release of Imran, his spouse Bushra Bibi and other party workers and members without further delay.

“[The] Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has been demanding transparent, impartial, and independent investigations into the events of May 9 from the first day and remains steadfast in this demand,” he added.

“We have repeatedly made it clear that a judicial commission comprising serving senior judges of the Supreme Court should be established to bring all facts before the nation.”

He maintained that only a judicial probe can uncover the truth about the incident and ensure accountability for those responsible.

Akram recalled that Imran had repeatedly demanded the formation of an independent judicial commission to determine responsibility, but noted that no commission has been established to date despite those calls.

“We once again demand the immediate formation of a judicial commission comprising senior judges of the Supreme Court. All CCTV footage related to the events of May 9 must be made public without delay,” he demanded.

Akram also raised serious concerns over the disappearance of CCTV footage related to the May 9 incidents, questioning the transparency of the investigations and saying the absence of such key evidence raised significant doubts about the fairness of the process.

“Its unavailability raises serious questions about the justice system and strengthens the impression that facts are being deliberately concealed,” he asserted.

He further demanded that all detainees arrested in the aftermath of the riots, including women, be released immediately, arguing that many were detained without evidence or proper legal justification.

“These actions are not only violations of human rights but also reflect the illegitimate use of state power,” Akram stressed. “The nation awaits the truth. No matter how much [the] facts are suppressed, they eventually come to light one day or another.”

Meanwhile, the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) has asserted in a statement that May 9, 2023, was “one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s political history”, when an attempt was made to alter the country’s political direction through unconstitutional and unlawful means.

TTAP spokesperson Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai claimed that the events of May 9 were used primarily as “justification for political actions against opponents, causing serious damage to constitutional freedoms, fundamental human rights, and the democratic political process in the country”.