Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi are responsible for May 9 riots, claims Wasiq Qayyum

Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, a former Punjab Assembly speaker, Wednesday held former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi responsible for the May 9 riots. 

The former PTI leader stated in his 164 court statement in the May 9 incidents case that Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan were equally responsible for the rampage in Rawalpindi.

"Bigwigs of the party said the protest was the wish of the chairman," he said. "Alongside Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Aamir Kiani, I [Abbasi] kept pelting stones at police at GPO Chowk," he added.

"In the meeting, Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi used to criticize the army," Abbasi said.

On May 9, 2023, Imran Khan was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case from the Islamabad High Court premises, sparking a nationwide protest by the PTI, during which military, civil installation, and public properties were set on fire, public and private property was severely damaged, and at least 8 people were killed and 290 injured.

Protesters also stormed the Corps Commander's residence, also known as Jinnah House, in Lahore, and broke a gate of the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

Subsequently, 1,900 people involved in fighting, vandalism, and arson were arrested across the country by law enforcement agencies, while cases were also registered against Imran Khan and his party workers."