Web DeskPublished: 9 June 2023 at 01:16 | Updated: 9 June 2023 at 11:16
Government Expands Investigation into May 9 Events, Including Overseas Pakistanis
The government of Pakistan has decided to widen the scope of the investigation into the violent protests that occurred on May 9, following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. In a new development, overseas Pakistanis will be included in the probe, according to sources informed by Geo News.
Authorities have reportedly collected and analyzed the data of hundreds of expatriates, predominantly from the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States. The sources revealed that any expatriates found to be involved in instigating, glorifying, or supporting the heinous incidents on May 9, both physically and financially, will face legal action.
To this end, the relevant data of over 500 Pakistanis has been gathered, including their call records, social media activity, travel history, financial transactions, immigration status, and other pertinent information. The government intends to initiate criminal proceedings against all those implicated, and efforts will be made to have the culprits extradited by contacting the respective foreign governments.
Furthermore, the legal status of the individuals in their host countries, their method of entry, and any pending dual nationality applications will be taken into account during the proceedings. The host countries will be duly informed of the developments.
The protests on May 9 erupted nationwide after the arrest of Imran Khan in the £190 million settlement case. The violent incidents resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people and numerous injuries, prompting the authorities to apprehend thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers.
In the aftermath of the attacks, over 100 PTI workers and leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, Imran Ismail, and Ali Zaidi, distanced themselves from the former ruling party. They condemned the events of May 9 while facing a widespread crackdown across the country.