On Wednesday, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan stated he would issue an apology if any member of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is found guilty in connection with the riots of May 9 last year. Speaking from Adiala Jail, Khan urged for the release of CCTV footage from the riots to identify the true perpetrators.
“If any PTI member is proven to have participated in the May 9 violence, I will apologize, expel them from the party, and ensure they are punished,” Khan declared. He also emphasized the need for comprehensive accountability, asserting that everyone who broke the law should be held responsible.
Khan lamented the lack of respect afforded to him, despite his significant national and international standing, and questioned why he has not been offered an apology for the treatment he received. He claimed that his party workers are enduring severe injustices, including imprisonment, disqualification from elections, and a party ban.
He mentioned that he had sought justice from the chief justice, highlighting human rights violations, but his petition was not addressed. Khan reiterated that PTI will not engage with the current government, which he accused of coming to power through election rigging on February 8.
Khan also suggested that his name, along with those of Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, and Shehbaz Sharif, be added to the no-fly list as part of the accountability process.
His comments follow a statement by military spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who reaffirmed that those involved in the May 9 riots should apologize and face justice. The riots, which erupted after Khan’s arrest on corruption charges, resulted in over 100 deaths and extensive damage to both civil and military sites.
