Those who attacked the military installation on May 9 are not Pakistanis: Khawaja Asif

LAHORE, May 26 (SABAH): Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan wants negotiations with “only one institution”. “I believe that if negotiations are needed, it is between all the members of Pakistan’s politics. The country needs a new social contract right now,” he added.

While talking to media persons after visiting the Jinnah House in Lahore on Friday, Khawaja Asif said Imran Khan did not issue any condemnation for the events of May 9 and when he did, it was “qualified”.

He said that those who attacked the military installation on May 9 are not Pakistanis. “They may have Pakistani passports, but ideologically they are not Pakistanis,” he added.

Khawaja Asif said that the arson on May 9, which he claimed was done by PTI workers, followed a similar pattern in which “targets were identified beforehand”. “And they came here and caused the destruction of these important locations. They tried to give this message that Pakistan’s institutions, memorials, residences and offices are vulnerable.

“You can expect this from an Indian, but not a Pakistani. But this was done and May 9 will be a witness to how a man sabotaged the country in his quest for power,” Khawaja Asif added.

Khawaja Asif said that if a “three-star general” was living at the Quaid-e-Azam’s residence, it was a “value addition”. “The house was not under any other use. It was being appropriately used, but it was targeted,” he said.

Khawaja Asif said that “red lines” were crossed on May 9 in a way that was never seen before in the country’s history. “On May 9, not a single civilian installation was attacked. Across the worlds, there have been instances of attacks on civilian installations, but never has it happened that you attack and disrespect your martyrs’ memorials. “This is unforgivable,” he added.