LAHORE: The caretaker Punjab government has given a 24-hour deadline to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hand over the “30-40 terrorists, who, it said, have taken refuge” at the residence of former minister Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence.
“The PTI should hand over these terrorists or the law would take its course,” said Punjab’s Caretaker Information Minister Aamir Mir, addressing a press conference in Lahore.
He also said that the provincial government was aware of the presence of these “terrorists” (at the Zaman Park residence of Khan) as it had credible intelligence reports.
“The intelligence reports that have come are very alarming,” said Mir. He said that intelligence agencies have confirmed the presence of the “terrorists” in Zaman Park through geo-fencing.”
“The PTI is starting to behave like the non-state actor,” said Mir. He said the PTI chief has been targeting the military for over a year and urged the party to hand over the “terrorists.”
“The PTI leadership had planned the attack before the arrest [of Imran Khan],” Mir claimed.
The caretaker information minister said that attacks on military installations were carried out during May 9 violent protests under the set plan, adding that the government has adopted the “zero tolerance policy” towards it and interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has given a “freehand” to the police to deal with “arsonists.”
“Multiple people were in touch with Zaman Park during the attack on the Corps Commander House. They would be made an example so that no one would carry out such an act in the future,” said Mir.
The interim information minister shared that it has been decided that those who attacked military installations would be tried in military courts.
Mir said, “those arrested so far are being fully scrutinised. Cases are being forwarded after 100 per cent confirmation [of their involvement].”
The minister said the “PTI miscreants” crossed a “red line” on May 9. He added that over 3,400 attackers have been arrested, and 254 cases have been registered.
Of those, 795 attackers have been identified, and 78 have been physically remanded. He said that 906 miscreants had been judicially remanded while the arrest of other miscreants was ongoing.
Mir said, “Those who challenged the writ of the state would be made to run in such a way that they would be able to participate in the Olympics.”
