NSC vows action against ‘spoilers’ behind attack on military installations

ISLAMABAD: A National Security Committee (NSC) meeting on Friday agreed to bring to justice the “spoilers” involved in the recent attacks on military installations on May 9 – the day Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was arrested, ARY News reported on Tuesday, citing sources.

Prime Minster (PM) Shehbaz Sharif convened a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) – the apex national body that oversees security matters – to review the law and order situation following ‘violent protests’ after Imran Khan’s arrest.

The services chiefs, relevant federal ministers, heads of the civil and military intelligence gathering agencies also attend the meeting.

Sources told ARY News that the NSC meeting condemned in the strongest terms the violent incidents of May 9 after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan. The meeting also condemned the ‘external and internal propaganda’ against the institutions.

Sources quoting PM Shehbaz Sharif said that May 9 will be remembered as a ‘black day’. He added that those who attacked the military and official buildings deserve no concession.

The meeting was briefed that the ‘violence was perpetrated by extremist elements’ under a well-planned conspiracy. Videos and evidence of the incidents are present, and over 5,000 culprits responsible for the arson and violence have been arrested.

The National Security Committee also expressed complete solidarity with the armed forces. The forum also lauded the recent intelligence-based operations.

Sources claimed that the meeting agreed to bring to justice the “spoilers” involved in the recent attacks on military installations on May 9.

Protests

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

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 of PTI workers.

Imran Khan’s arrest

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust case on Tuesday.

The PTI chief was taken into custody by Rangers personnel, who were acting on the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) warrant, from the premises of Islamabad High Court where the former premier had gone to seek bail in multiple cases registered against him.

Later, Islamabad High Court (IHC) barred authorities from arresting PTI Chairman Imran Khan in all cases, even those are undisclosed, registered across the country until Monday (May 15).

The court also granted protective bail to PTI chief in three terrorism cases registered against him in Lahore and stopped authorities from arresting him till May 17 in any case registered in Islamabad after May 9.

Justice Jahangiri also approved Imran’s protective bail in a case pertaining to the death of Zille Shah — a PTI worker who was killed during a party rally in Lahore earlier this year — for 10 days against surety bonds worth Rs50,000.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted protective bail to former prime minister Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case, a day after the Supreme Court ruled his arrest “unlawful”.