A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was established on Saturday to scrutinize the fire attack on Lahore’s Corp Commander House, also known as the Jinnah House, during the May 9 unrest.
Per a notification issued by the Punjab Home Department, the JIT will be headed by the Superintendent of Police Investigation Iqbal Town, with four other members from the local police force.
The investigation will primarily involve several figures from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including leaders, workers, and supporters suspected of participating in this act of arson. These individuals allegedly breached this secure zone in Lahore to protest the May 9 arrest of their party chairman, Imran Khan.
Read: ATC Approves Transfer of 16 Suspects to Military Jurisdiction for May 9 Mayhem
Rizwan Zia, the son of the former Inspector General of Police for both Sindh and Punjab, Major (Retd.) Ziaul Hasan was among those detained for the fire attack on the Corp Commander House. Zia was arrested for protesting outside the Jinnah House and engaging in the May 9 vandalism.
The police, having located and arrested Zia through geo-fencing, also revealed that Zia is a former army officer’s son-in-law, and efforts are being made to apprehend those associated with him.
To this point, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has sanctioned the handover of 16 suspects allegedly involved in the attack to a military commanding officer. However, in line with the National Security Committee (NSC) ‘s decision, these individuals are set to be prosecuted under the Army Act.
The country’s civil and military leadership have voiced their commitment to penalize all those involved in causing damage to public and private properties and military installations during these protests.
Read: Punjab Police Discovers PTI Leadership’s Alleged Role in Military Assaults on May 9
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has termed the violence a “black chapter” in the country’s history and pledged to bring the culprits to justice under the Army Act and other relevant laws.