Lahore, Pakistan: Attacking military installations and disgracing monuments of martyrs in Pakistan links with the events of the May 9 mutiny when PTI leadership directed its followers to target any symbol that represents armed forces in Pakistan but it looks that May 9 incidents are now being buried under the dust of the political events taking place n the country.
Incidents of May 9 2022 did not happen in one day or were not prearranged in one week rather they had a deep and consistent propagation process planned against state institutions since the day former prime minister Imran Khan was voted out from government in April 2022. Directly or indirectly PDM government was also responsible as it intentionally or unintentionally did not take administrative action against the propaganda machinery of PTI and its founding chairman Imran Khan was free to use television screens to abuse state institutions particularly the Pakistan Army, higher judiciary, and Election Commission of Pakistan.
After the May 9 incidents, those who were targeted in the mutiny came forward and took strict action against those who were involved in targeting military installations. A large-scale crackdown was conducted and hundreds of accused were arrested who were present, participating, directing, and planning attacks. It was decided that whosoever was involved in attacking armed forces would be tried in military courts because it is the norm globally that culprits involved in attacking armed forces face trials in military courts. However, in Pakistan trial of civilians in military courts was challenged in higher courts and the case is under trial and sub judice therefore no further comments are appropriate.
It is pertinent to mention that the trial of civilians in military courts is legal and has been approved by courts in the past hence there was an expectation that cases of people allegedly involved in attacking military installations or monuments of martyrs would be decided without wasting time and examples would be set that whosoever would attack state institutions, would not be spared. However, things are otherwise in Pakistan and slowly but surely accused of May 9 mutiny are getting relief from the system dozens of them are running for General Election 2024 as candidates, and scrutiny of nomination papers will be completed by December 30, 2023.
Appeals against the rejection of nomination papers will be decided by January 10, 2024, and a list of approved candidates will be released on January 11, 2024. Returning Officers have accepted nomination papers of several PTI leaders like Hammad Azhar for scrutiny although they are absconders and never appeared before courts for their bail petition. The acceptance of nomination papers of the accused without even surrendering to courts or for investigation authorities sent a loud and clear message that the May 9 mutiny was not a big incident and it can be repeated again because the law of the land has provisions that can surely benefit culprits and everybody is free to plan any other mutiny. Are laws of the land really help such culprits or are there people within the system who are cunning and strong enough to arrange facilities for culprits of mutiny? is a question that is being asked by common Pakistani.
Moreover, it is interesting to note that one part of PDM’s former government—PMLN is not questioning this situation of how PTI candidates who were involved in the May 9 mutiny are being allowed to contest General Elections 2024. This silence of political parties like PML-N leaves many unanswered questions.
One of the most important questions is that is Pakistan as a nation is forgetting what happened on May 9 black day and whether politicians as well as state administrative units and the judiciary are more interested in their reputation and politics than the reputation and well-being of the country.
