Referring to the violent riots that took place after former premier Imran Khan’s arrest last year on May 9, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that there “can be no absolution for those who orchestrated, supported, and assisted the attempt to damage the foundations of our nation”.

The government has decided to mark May 9 as a “black day” today in commemoration of the first “anniversary” of the violence against military installations throughout the country following Imran’s arrest last year.

Supreme Court declares Imran Khan’s arrest illegal, orders ‘immediate release’

“Let not the shadows of lies, hide the light of truth,” the prime minister posted on X.

He further said that a year ago on this day, not only were symbols of “our national pride and honour attacked but the sanctity of our sacred homeland was also assaulted”.

“There can absolutely be no soft-pedalling of what happened on May 9 and there can be no absolution for those who orchestrated, supported, and assisted the attempt to damage the foundations of our nation,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his statement, President Asif Ali Zardari said May 9 will always be remembered as a dark day in country’s history.

Condemning the violence, the president said that the unfortunate incidents severely tarnished the country’s image, which only served the interest of Pakistan’s enemies.

“Those responsible for the May 9 violence should be held accountable according to law,” President Zardari said.

‘No compromise with planners, executors of May 9 tragedy’

In a separate statement, Pakistan Army said that there can be no compromise with planners, facilitators and executors of May 9 tragedy.

The ISPR said that politically motivated and brainwashed miscreants in an act of rebellion “deliberately resorted to violence against state institutions and vandalised sacred symbols of the state and the sites belonging to national heritage”.

“It was a futile attempt to bring about a misplaced and shortsighted revolution in the country.”

May 9

Last year on May 9, after Imran’s arrest, protesters stormed the gate of the Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, attacked and burnt the Lahore Corps Commander’s house, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology Rawalpindi, targeted an Army convoy on the Mall Road, Lahore and set police vehicles and security posts on fire at several places.

Monuments of martyrs were attacked, vandalized and in some locations desecrated.

Protesters blocked roads in various cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, and Quetta on that ill-fated day.

Overall, more than 10,000 PTI members were arrested post-May 9, and illegally detained under fake cases.