As the first anniversary of last year’s May 9 violence approaches, the PTI’s efforts to distance itself from the events seem to follow a well-worn path—refusing to admit fault and shifting blame onto others. However, this strategy appears ineffective.
At a time when PTI’s founding chairman Imran Khan is openly accusing the security establishment of orchestrating the mayhem, even warning the incumbent army chief Gen Asim Munir about responsibility for any harm to him or his wife, experts believe the party is unlikely to escape scrutiny over the ‘Black Day’ incidents.
This controversy emerged shortly after PTI’s former National Assembly speaker, Asad Qaiser, alleged in parliament that the current Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Punjab police chief were behind the May 9 attacks.
Amidst these accusations, PTI leadership has called for a judicial commission to investigate the riots, raising questions about whether this approach can repair the party’s reputation after the significant damage incurred on that fateful day last year.
On May 9, 2023, purportedly enraged PTI activists and supporters attacked security installations following Imran’s arrest on corruption charges at the Islamabad High Court. PTI had previously warned that arresting Imran would cross a “red line,” leading to violent responses including attacks on installations and memorials.
Political analyst Majid Nizami suggested that PTI’s attempts to reverse or mitigate the impact of May 9 through controversial statements and blame-shifting are unlikely to succeed, given the party’s involvement in or support of the violent acts.
Professor Tahir Naeem Malik of NUML University emphasized that PTI should reconsider its aggressive stance toward the security establishment, recommending a more tactful approach to de-escalate tensions and seek resolution.
