May 9 fallout

Editorial Published May 9, 2024

A YEAR since the events of May 9, 2023, very little appears to have changed, at least from the political
perspective.

In fact, there seems to be even more bad blood between the PTI and the security establishment; both
sides appear unwilling to reconsider the combative stance they have taken towards each other.

In a press conference on Tuesday, the military’s spokesperson made it clear there would be no moving
forward without a sincere apology from the PTI and a public disavowal of “the politics of anarchy and
hate”. In response, the PTI denounced the statement as a “pack of lies” that was “full of contradictions”.

It cannot be denied that the violence directed at military symbols and installations in several parts of the
country on this day last year, was a direct consequence of the narrative built by the PTI following its
ouster.

The party had spent months framing the possibility of its chief’s arrest as a ‘red line’, all the while
blaming and shaming the security establishment for its ouster from government in April 2022. This
combustible mix, triggered by the controversial arrest of Imran Khan by Rangers personnel from the
premises of the Islamabad High Court, exploded in the form of unprecedented, widespread violence by
PTI supporters.

The PTI should acknowledge that it acted in an extremely irresponsible manner by leading its supporters
towards such an unacceptable reaction. Thousands were targeted in reprisals by the state, and the
events of the day accelerated the expansion of unelected forces’ influence in the state’s legislative and
administrative apparatus.

However, the state, too, is not without blame. Rather than acting with restraint and demonstrating that
it was only interested in getting justice for the wrong that it had been caused, it responded with extreme
measures that seemed to have been taken from the playbooks of past dictatorships.

For example, in seeking ‘justice’ for PTI supporters’ defacement of various installations, the homes of
countless civilian suspects were raided and vandalised and their residents allegedly harassed by
personnel representing the state. Even women prisoners, who otherwise enjoy special protections and
concessions under Pakistan’s legal system, were repeatedly denied their right to bail and kept
incarcerated without trial in scores of dubious cases.

The PTI-military stand-off has been the root cause of Pakistan’s political instability. Since neither side
seems interested in a resolution, perhaps the government should step in. It can offer its best resources
to prosecute the May 9 cases in civilian courts, thereby ensuring a transparent judicial process.

Done fairly, this will prevent the two sides from engaging directly with each other, which only seems to
be perpetuating the tensions between them. It is important that this chapter be closed satisfactorily so
that the nation can move forward.

 Combative - (‫ )جدوجہدی‬- eager or ready to fight or argue

 Disavowal - (‫ )انکار‬- denial of any responsibility or support for something
 Ouster - (‫ )دینا ہٹا‬- the action of causing someone to leave an organization, position, or place
 Combustible - (‫ )فشاں آتش‬- capable of catching fire and burning easily
 Reprisals - (‫ )پنشاندہ‬- acts of retaliation or revenge against an enemy
 Unelected - (‫ )منتخب غیر‬- not chosen or voted for by the people, especially for a political office