Amir Mir, Caretaker Information Minister of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, said on Wednesday the government had intelligence that “30-40 terrorists” responsible for recent attacks on military properties were hiding at the Lahore residence of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, giving his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party 24 hours to hand them to authorities.
Khan’s May 9 arrest in a land fraud case sparked violent protests across the country that killed at least eight people, with thousands of the opposition politician’s supporters attacking and setting fire to scores of government and public buildings, including military properties.
The military has since said those accused of attacks on the army would be tried by military courts and the government has ordered that all rioters be arrested and punished. Several top Khan aides are currently under arrest and the PTI party has said 7,000 supporters and leaders of the party are in custody.
“Around 30 to 40 terrorists, who attacked army installations on May 9, have sought refuge in Zaman Park [Khan’s Lahore residence] according to geo-fencing carried out by intelligence agencies,” Mir told reporters in Lahore. “The PTI should hand over these terrorists to the Punjab Police within 24 hours.”
Mir’s press conference has raised widespread concerns that the noose would tighten further around Khan, his party and its supporters. The party has accused the government of working to ban the PTI on the pretext of violence.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the party said Khan supporters had exercised their democratic rights and held peaceful protests after Khan’s arrest and “armed anarchists were inducted into the ranks of peaceful protesters as part of a well-thought-out plan.”
The party said evidence it had collected from the countrywide protests showed officials of Pakistani intelligence agencies were involved in arson attacks and firing at certain places. It did not name a particular agency.
“The plan was to spread chaos which could be blamed on Tehreek-e-Insaf to justify the ongoing crackdown against it,” the PTI said.
In a video message released on Monday evening, Khan said attacks on state institutions following his arrest took place under a “planned conspiracy” to get his party banned.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan issued separate statements late Tuesday, saying they were alarmed by the government’s plan to bring supporters of former Khan who clashed with police and rioted across the country to trial under military rules.
Pakistan is the only country in South Asia to allow military courts to try civilians for non-military offenses, including offenses related to terrorism. Military trials in Pakistan are usually held behind closed doors, depriving civilians of some of their basic rights, including contracting a lawyer of their choice.
