The jailed ex-prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has refused to apologise for the unprecedented May 9 riots last year. The development has come a day after the military ruled out dialogue with his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party unless they tendered a public apology over the violence.
On Wednesday, he spoke to the media after the court proceedings in the 190 million pounds Al Qadir corruption case.
The ex-pm also said that he was ready to face an inquiry into the sit-in that his PTI party staged in 2014, reported Dawn newspaper.
When asked whether he would apologise for the May 9 violent protest, Khan (71) replied no, saying he was under custody at the time and was not aware of those protests, the report added.
Since August last year, Khan has been jailed after he was booked in several cases ranging from corruption to violating the Official Secrets Act.
On May 9 last year, the mayhem was led by supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party who were triggered into action by the detention of their leader in a case of alleged corruption.
The PTI party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Jinnah House (Lahore Corps Commander House), Mianwali Airbase, and the ISI building in Faisalabad after Khan was arrested in a corruption case.
The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time.
After the May 9 violence, the 71-year-old politician and hundreds of his party coworkers are being tried under multiple cases, including one under the stringent Official Secrets Act in connection with the violent demonstrations.