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Army Denies COAS Sought Apology Over May 9 Riots, Says Perpetrators Must Face Justice
DG ISPR clarifies COAS Asim Munir never sought an apology over May 9 riots. Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif says perpetrators, enablers, and planners must face justice under the law.
ND
by News Desk
2025-08-21
Army Denies COAS Sought Apology Over May 9 Riots, Says Perpetrators Must Face Justice

Islamabad — The military on Thursday dismissed reports claiming that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir had sought an apology over the May 9, 2023 riots, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable.

Military spokesperson Lieutenant-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, while speaking to reporters in Islamabad, said:
“Neither did the army chief make any political statement in Brussels, nor did he mention any apology.”

The clarification comes days after journalist Suhail Warraich wrote in his column for Daily Jang that the army chief, during a conversation with him in Brussels, had hinted that reconciliation in politics was possible only with a “sincere apology.” The comment had been widely interpreted as directed towards the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which the state accuses of orchestrating the May 9 violence.

Lt-Gen Chaudhry emphasized that the incident was not only a military matter but a national one.
“May 9 is not only the military’s case but the nation’s case. It is clear that those who carried out the May 9 [riots], their enablers and planners should be held accountable as per the law.”

He further noted that hundreds of people had attended the Brussels event where the army chief was present, but insisted no political statement was made there.

The ISPR chief also highlighted Pakistan’s geopolitical importance, describing it as a country that “changes the region’s destinies” and therefore faces frequent attacks. He urged the youth to understand the historical and ideological legacy of the state.

The clarification follows renewed debate around the May 9 riots, when PTI supporters, angered by the arrest of Imran Khan, attacked military installations, state buildings, and the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence. Several PTI leaders have since been convicted and disqualified in connection with the unrest.

While the PTI has repeatedly demanded a judicial commission to probe the May 9 violence and subsequent political events, the military maintains that the party was the “architect and planner” of the riots. PTI founder Imran Khan has countered by claiming he was “abducted” on May 9 and has demanded the army apologise to him instead.
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