Military courts to take up cases against desecration of national heroes statues

MARDAN: The cases related to the desecration of the national heroes statues by rioters on May 9 will be taken up by the military courts, citing sources, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

Rioters had vandalised statues of national heroes during violent protests after the arrested of former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on May 9.

Sources told ARY News that six accused rioters will face their trials in the military courts for desecrating the statues of the national heroes.

The accused persons include Shahzeb, Rehmatullah, Adnan, Shakirullah, Syed Alam and Yasir Nawaz. An anti-terrorism court (ATC) approved the plea for the trial of the six alleged rioters in the military courts under Army Act and Secret Official Act.

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Police had arrested the accused during raids in different areas.

One of the accused rioters, Rehmatullah was caught on camera while committing the act of vandalism, destroying the statue of Colonel Sher Khan Shaheed outside the Punjab Regiment Center, located in Mardan.

Colonel Sher Khan, a renowned military officer and recipient of Pakistan’s highest military honour, the Nishan-e-Haider, is revered as a national hero.

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Violent protests

Violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan were arrested from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 9.

The protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers are agitated due to their chairman’s arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order.

Army installations and Corps Commander’s house in Lahore came under attack during a protest by PTI workers.