Lahore (Web Desk): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan on Friday condemned the attack on Jinnah (Corps Commander) House in Lahore, which occurred following his arrest on May 9.
Speaking to newsmen on the occasion of appearance at a Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC), the PTI chief said that the event should “not have happened”.
Khan said he condemned the incident as he had “earlier as well”.
After Imran’s arrest, angered rioters torched the historical Jinnah House, which was being used as the residence of the Lahore corps commander.
He said that “every Pakistani” was condemning the attack.
Talking about the Punjab caretaker information minister's claim that Imran was hiding terrorists responsible for the May 9 riots inside his Lahore residence, the former premier said that he had “opened his house” for the media to see and emphasised that there was no truth in the claims.
"Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)'s actions and human rights violations have brought the country to disrepute and Pakistan cannot function on “fear”, Khan said, adding that the ruling govt has trapped itself by arresting "7,000" people.
The former prime minister said that one-sided negotiations cannot take place with the incumbent government and claimed that his party had been talking about negotiations for the past 11 months.
Commenting on the current arrests of PTI workers and supporters, Imran said that such things did not happen even during Zia and Musharraf martial laws.
Earlier on Thursday, President Dr Arif Alvi had also urged the PTI chief to openly condemn the May 9 riots that erupted after the latter's arrest from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) in Al-Qadir Trust case.