The Cabinet Division on Saturday formed a five-member committee tasked with identifying the “role of mastermind, planners, facilitators and executors” of May 9, 2023 incidents that saw countrywide violence following the arrest of former premier Imran Khan.

On May 9 last year, Imran was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau with the help of the paramilitary Rangers at the Islamabad High Court in the Al Qadir Trust case — a development that sparked countrywide protests amid incidents of vandalism and violence.

The military had subsequently termed the events of May 9 a “dark chapter” and announced its intent to try the rioters under relevant laws, including two military laws — the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act.

The decision was endorsed by the National Security Committee — the country’s principal decision-making forum on foreign policy and national security — amid opposition by rights organisations and activists.

Since then, numerous individuals, including PTI activists, have undergone trials in military courts. Several party leaders have also resigned from the PTI after expressing condemnation for the violence on the day of Imran’s arrest and the subsequent attacks on military installations.

Apart from the legal proceedings, the caretaker government today formed a committee to probe the incidents.

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division — a copy of which is available with Dawn.com — the committee will have the representation of minister for law and justice, minister for interior, minister for information and broadcasting, minister for human rights, and “any co-opted member to address any issue emanating during the proceedings of the committee”.

The notification also mentioned the terms of references for the committee, which included examination of May 9 incidents “with a view to ascertain the identity and role of mastermind, planners, facilitators and executors”.

It also mandated the committee “to analyse the causes, and determine responsibility for these events and to evaluate their immediate and long-term implications”.

The committee is also mandated to “suggest preventive measures to ensure that such a breach of national security is not repeated”.

Under the ToRs, the committee must also recommend measures to strengthen the existing legal regime to deter such recurrences.

The notification said the Ministry of Interior would provide “secretarial support to the committee that will submit its report for consideration of the cabinet within a period of 14 days.”

Body formed for ‘holistic investigation’: Solangi

Speaking on Geo News show Naya Pakistan, caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said there was a dire need to carry out a holistic investigation of the May 9 incidents to determine causes, responsibility and the future course of action to prevent the recurrence of such events.

He said the investigation of those involved on May 9 was underway on an individual basis, but interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar deemed it appropriate to probe into the matter holistically.

Solangi said the committee would not only investigate the May 9 riots thoroughly but also give its recommendations to prevent a repetition of such events by strengthening the existing legal regime.

He said the caretaker government never viewed the investigation of the May 9 incidents as invalid.

“The law will take its course in the matters related to the May 9 tragedy,” Solangi added.

The minister said it was imperative to bring forth the reality before the people as to how these events were planned and what was its purpose.

The law minister will be the convener of the committee which will collect details about the events that led to the May 9 incidents, Solangi said, adding the body could include a co-opted member to address any issues stemming from its proceedings.

He said the interior minister would provide secretarial support to the committee which would have two weeks to furnish the report.

The minister said the committee would work by the law and compile its recommendations in light of the information provided by the state institutions. “The committee is not a tribunal, nor a court, and we do not have any authority to punish anyone,” he remarked.

To a query, he said the government would not divulge details about the action taken by the previous government against those involved on May 9. He said the caretaker government was constitutional and would make all-out efforts to ensure enforcement of the law.