Khar State Minister says no state can accept arson and destruction, which is at the heart of the issue surrounding trials under the army legislation.
Hina Rabbani Khar, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has supported the federal government’s decision to try those responsible for attacks on state and army institutions under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, in ISLAMABAD, arguing that no state can condone such acts.
Is there any country that doesn’t react to acts of vandalism and arson? After a parliamentary meeting on Tuesday, the state minister told reporters, “Everyone saw the response to the attack on Capitol Hill in America.”
On May 17, the country’s civil and military officials backed a decision made by corps commanders the day before to use the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 and the Official Secrets Act, 1923 against those responsible for the disturbances on May 9.
The arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan from the high court in the federal capital on May 9 ignited violent protests across the country.
In response, the government conducted a widespread crackdown, rounding up thousands of PTI supporters on allegations of targeting civilian and military targets.
The state minister reported having meetings with EU officials during the Indo-Pacific Forum. According to her, no other nation offered assistance with the prosecution of arsonists under the army legislation. The riots in Pakistan was a concern for all countries, she said.
According to Khar, the world witnessed the response of Pakistani security personnel when protesters attacked government buildings. She also said that the security forces “exercised restraint” to prevent any casualties.
Khar, referring obliquely to the PTI leader, said no one can be allowed to use his fame to ignite violence in the country. She emphasised that nobody wants the people responsible for the political destruction of state property to be let off the hook.
Peace is something we’re working towards as quickly as we can. We will defend the liberties guaranteed by the Pakistani constitution. What matters most right now is Pakistan’s prestige, hence arsonists must be punished severely.
The state minister declined to comment on former US ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been critical of the Pakistani government for cracking down on the PTI.
