May 9 was a coup attempt planned to introduce dictatorship: Shehbaz
Pakistan
Questions why the perpetrators haven’t been punished
- Says foreign funding and social media still being used to spread hate against state institutions
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk/Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the motive behind May 9 violence was to bulldoze democracy, end the rule of constitution and erect a dictatorship.
It was a coup designed against Pakistan, the state, the armed forces and Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, he said and asked why the May 9 perpetrators had not been punished even after the passage of one year.
The entire nation wanted an answer to the question, Shehbaz noted and added that no country governed by a constitution could ignore such actions.
The prime minister was addressing a special federal cabinet meeting held at Parliament House to mark one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s history.
He reminded the audience that foreign funding was used by the May 9 perpetrators for negative lobbying both within and outside the country, adding that their faces had been exposed before the people.
The prime minister said foreign funding and social media were still being employed for spreading hate against the state institutions.
Shehbaz said the May 9 violence was a planned effort and the mobs had been fully prepared to specific targets at a particular time for igniting a conflict between the people and the institution. However, the perpetrators were denying the reality by distorting the facts, he added.
Earlier in the day, Shehbaz reiterated that there could absolutely be no soft-pedaling of what happened on May 9 and no absolution for those who orchestrated, supported and assisted the attempt to damage the foundations of the nation.
“One year ago today, not only were symbols of our national pride and honor attacked, but the sanctity of our sacred homeland was also assaulted,” the premier stated on social media platform X, on the first anniversary of the May 9 incidents.
“Let not the shadows of lies, hide the light of truth… Love of our country demands nothing less,” he remarked.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 9, 2024
In an earlier post, PM Shehbaz said that May 9 was a day that separated two distinct mindsets – one that sacrificed for the country and the other that betrayed the nation for personal gains.
“One year has passed, but the nation has not forgotten its betrayers and will never forget them, he added.
