ISLAMABAD: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that there are political differences but it does not mean that government and public property should be attacked.
Speaking to the international broadcasting organization Al Jazeera, the defense minister said that there is definitely a political crisis in Pakistan, but it will be overcome very soon when peace has been restored in the cities.
Khawaja Asif said that during the violent incidents in Rawalpindi, Mianwali, and Lahore on May 9, armed groups of PTI attacked military installations. The defense minister said that there have been arrests in Pakistan before and he was also arrested. “My leader and many people of my political party were arrested but we never did the politics of violence. They did not attack civilian installations,” he said.
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He said that those who attack military and civilian installations are enemies of the country. “We have political differences, but that does not mean that government and public property should be attacked,” he added.
Khawaja Asif said that the miscreants of PTI attacked public and government properties including military installations under a well-thought-out plan and such action is tantamount to war against Pakistan.
The defense minister said that those who attacked military installations, military bases, and residences of military personnel will be tried by military courts, according to the procedure given in the constitution. “We are not creating new courts and new laws because there are already laws, such accused will have the right to appeal to the High Courts and then to the Supreme Court,” he asserted.
