During his speech on the floor of the National Assembly, Ayub, who is also the Secretary General of the PTI, restated the demands of the party for the creation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, which included attacks on military installations after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan. He also emphasized that the nation sustained significant losses after the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benzair Bhutto, stating that the violence that ensued in the wake of Bhutto’s death caused $2 billion in losses.
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Ayub went on to say that the violent protests also caused damage to numerous trains, engines, and railway stations. In three to four days, “Karachi alone suffered damages worth Rs80 to Rs90 billion,” he continued. “I would like to know how many people were arrested and how many probes were requested by this House and you. The head of the opposition questioned, “How many people were sentenced and how many people were put behind bars?” The PTI leader claimed that no action was done against individuals responsible for the riots in 2007 despite the loss of billions of rupees. “May 9 was an excuse, and Imran Khan was the target,” he insisted.
Additionally, he criticised the government’s May 9 posture as “victim-blaming,” claiming that all proof, including CCTV footage, of the violence that day had been removed in order to thwart the course of justice. In the interim, Omar Ayub also recited Article 19, which deals with free expression, criticising media control and the prohibition on X. He said, “This speech may not even be broadcast.” But Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker of the National Assembly, told the opposition leader that it was. Prior to the news conference held by Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the PTI made a significant U-turn in its position on engaging in discourse with the establishment and demanded an apology from the party for the events of May 9.
Additionally, he criticized the government’s May 9 posture as “victim-blaming,” claiming that all proof, including CCTV footage, of the violence that day had been removed in order to thwart the course of justice. In the interim, Omar Ayub also recited Article 19, which deals with free expression, criticizing media control and the prohibition on X. He said, “This speech may not even be broadcast.” But Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker of the National Assembly, told the opposition leader that it was. Prior to the news conference held by Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the PTI made a significant U-turn in its position on engaging in discourse with the establishment and demanded an apology from the party for the events of May 9.
The PTI, according to the former speaker of the National Assembly (NA), wants all institutions to operate within the bounds of the Constitution and believes that the law and the Constitution are supreme. Any communication with the PTI will only be possible if it “apologizes sincerely publicly in front of the nation,” according to DG ISPR Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif on Tuesday. Maj Gen Chaudhry stated: “No talks will be held with any political leader, or group which attacks its own army and indulges in propaganda [against them]” in reference to the likelihood of communication with any faction.