اردو
  • Imran Khan terms May 9 riots ‘organised propaganda’ against PTI

    Imran Khan Imran Khan Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan termed May 9 riots 'organised propaganda' against PTI.

    "Minus Imran, but tell [me] how this will benefit the country," he said in an address to supporters as the crackdown on the party and criticism over the recent riots continued.

    He claimed that the countrywide riots that erupted following his arrest on May 9, in which supporters attacked military installations including the Lahore Corps Commander House and General Headquarters (GHQ) entrance, were "orchestrated under a well-thought-out conspiracy" to destroy the PTI.

    Khan claimed that the ruling coalition knew it could not win the general elections, which was why it "conspired" against the former ruling party.

    Speaking about the days-long violence, the former prime minister questioned why the Radio Pakistan office in Peshawar was burnt down when the PTI's protest was being held in a different area.

    "Who was the person who incited people to vandalise the Lahore Corps Commander House? He disappeared afterwards," he added.

    Khan alleged that the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government wanted to hold the general elections only after PTI had been destroyed.

    Referring to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's earlier statement that elections would be held in October, Khan asked: "Will our economy get better and inflation disappear in October?"

    "What is the benefit of holding elections in October?"

    Criticising the government, the former premier claimed the government was "destroying the entire country in order to destroy one political party".

    The PTI chairman's comments come after scores of party leaders and workers were arrested following the days-long riots.

    The violent protests incurred severe damage to public property and led to the death of at least eight people and injured several, with severe condemnations from the government and the army.