Khawaja Asif calls for arrest of May 9 riots masterminds

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday that penalties would continue to be awarded to the May 9 violence accused until and unless the masterminds were not brought to justice, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Commenting on the prison terms awarded to 25 persons who were found involved in attacks on government and military installations on that ill-fated day on Twitter, the minister said just like it was the case in the UK and the USA, it was necessary to hand down penalties to those involved in these incidents immediately. “However, the delay in awarding penalties to these individuals emboldened them as well as their facilitators,” he opined.     

He lamented that a political party refrained from condemning the May 9 attacks, and even portrayed those involved as heroes.