Azmat-e-Shuhada Convention: Nation can’t tolerate May 9 like barbaric act, says PM

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated his resolve to bring to book the elements behind May 9 riots and said the nation would not let such ‘barbaric incidents’ happen in future. 

The prime minister assured that as chief executive of the country, it was his onus to ensure legal proceedings under the law and constitution, against all those rioters and miscreants who had planned, abetted and executed attacks on different civilian and military installations across the country. 

The prime minister was addressing the “Azmat e Shuhada Convention” held here to pay tribute to the country’s martyrs. The convention was attended by a large number of families of shuhada, governors, members of parliament, ministers, provincial ministers, ambassadors, legislators, civil society members, ulema and senior officials. 

Shehbaz Sharif said the incidents of May 9 were intolerable and unpardonable as the monuments and statues of Shuhada of armed forces and law enforcement agencies were vandalized. “We will not let it happen again and will keep the national flag high. We will not allow anyone to malign our armed forces,” he said, adding that they would bring all the perpetrators of May 9 incidents to face the law.  

As the prime minister, he assured that the law would take its course, stressing that people behind the incidents would not be given any concession and would not be pardoned as ‘they had crossed the red line’.  

He said, those elements also hurt the sentiments of the families of shuhada. However, the prime minister reiterated that no innocent would be framed in these criminal cases.   Referring to the unfortunate incidents on that day, he said if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Niazi had instigated his followers to go on a rampage.

He said the country’s history was replete with different cases of politicians. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif faced arrests and trials upon baseless allegations, but their followers never went violent and damaged the country.   “During the previous tenure of PTI, the entire opposition was pushed to the wall, but they faced all the ordeals with fortitude and never thought to mount any attack on any civilian or military installations,” he maintained. 

Terming May 9 incidents as ‘highly lamentable’ in the country’s history, he said on the other hand, the PTI’s chief was arrested in a corruption case, but prior to it, he was inciting his followers to spread violence by attacking different civilian and military installations in case of his arrest. 

The prime minister said the whole nation wanted an answer from the PTI’s leadership as to why Quaid’s House, Radio Pakistan and other buildings were ransacked and torched to ashes.  He further said even India could not achieve its nefarious designs after waging 1965 war, but the leadership of PTI and its followers inflicted huge damage to the country, adding “The nation will not forgive it.”  The prime minister said Quaid’s Pakistan existed due to the sacrifices of shuhada, they had left behind their orphan children but saved the coming generations.  

Paying tribute to martyrs, he said the martyrs of the nation, even did not care for their lives thus securing peace for the nation. It was all due to the precious blood they shed for the nation and its future. Business of life went on due to their sacrifices, he added. 

He said that these shuhada did not belong to one party or group, they were respected by the nation and it should be borne in mind that by holding of shuhada convention, they reaffirmed their resolve that such esteem and affection for the shuhada would be maintained forever.   

Shehbaz Sharif said if there was any trouble inside the country or at the country’s borders including threats of terrorism, the officers and personnel of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and police force faced them with valour.  He also stressed inculcating the young generations with the ideals of the founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah including the democratic norms, patience and tolerance. The prime minister also went to the different members of the families of shuhada and interacted with them.  

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal, in his address, condemned the May 9 attacks on state buildings and military installations in several cities.  Paying tributes to the country’s martyrs, he reiterated his firm commitment not to tolerate such illegal and unconstitutional acts in future.  Samar Bilour, a leader of Awami National Party, Maulana Raghib Naeemi, a renowned religious scholar, Minister for IT Ameen ul Haque, and Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman also spoke on the occasion.