Imran Khan offers conditional apology over May 9 riots

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan announced Wednesday that he would offer a conditional apology regarding the violent protests that occurred on May 9, provided that CCTV footage of the events is produced first.

This announcement came during an informal conversation with journalists in a courtroom.

Khan stated that the PTI faced significant hardships, including the imprisonment of 10,000 members, restrictions on contesting elections, and the party's ban.

The violent protests saw attacks on public properties including military installations in many parts of the country, prompting the civil and military leadership to try the rioters under the Army Act. 

The PTI chief has time and again distanced his party from the protests, alleging that the riots were pre-planned and staged to launch a crackdown on his party.

"I will sack and seek punishment for the PTI members if they were found involved [in the May 9 incidents]," he added.

He claimed, "We are victims of the May 9 tragedy, we want justice," and added that human rights violations had occurred, which were also communicated to the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Highlighting his ‘abduction by the Rangers’ and subsequent treatment of his lawyers, Khan demanded respect and an apology for his abduction.

He declared, "If even a single PTI worker appears in the CCTV footage, I will apologise," and vowed to expel any party member found guilty of involvement in the riots.

Khan criticized the actions of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and the rigged elections that brought a party with 20 seats to power.

He emphasized the importance of protecting national institutions and noted that the ISPR's actions had alienated the public.

He urged for the inclusion of his name and those of Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, and Shehbaz Sharif in the Exit Control List (ECL), warning of potential dire consequences for the country.