LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari says Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan should face a military trial.

“The mastermind (Imran Khan) of May 9 should face a military trial. The PTI suspects of May 9 should be tried in military courts,” the minister asserted at a presser here on Saturday.

She said the statues of martyrs were smashed and warplanes were set on fire. Even he (Khan) himself had justified military trials so why not for the suspects of the May 9, she said and added that the PTI’s objective was creating chaos as it was not interested in improving the conditions of the people and development.

Ms Bokhari said the PTI should know that the courts could not be managed through deals.

“We are the slaves, will be a new slogan of the PTI as it has set its hopes on Trump’s victory to seek Khan’s release,” she said.

The minister lamented that funds from the KP government, already in a financial crisis, were now being used for the security of Imran Khan’s family.

“Bushra Bibi, Khan’s wife, has brought her own security from the KP to Zaman Park.”

Azma Bokhari highlighted a number of initiatives Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had taken up after assuming the power.

“Maryam Nawaz has launched over 80 initiatives within a year and all are being implemented,” she said and added that a public sector cancer hospital in Lahore costing Rs54bn with a capacity of 920 beds would be built where no patient would be denied treatment. She said the Punjab government would establish agricultural malls in four cities: Sahiwal, Sargodha, Bahawalpur and Multan.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024