According to the recent report issued by the caretaker government, the purpose of the May 9, 2023 incidents was a blatant attempt to create a coup in favor of Tehreek-e-Insaaf within the army.
The May 9 report said it was a systematic and dangerous strategy. The PTI had become more emboldened by the lack of a strong response to earlier violence against state institutions. Frontal attacks on military installations were aimed at weakening army morale and pressuring for a political deal.
According to the report, the May 9 incidents were an open and misguided attempt to curry favor within the armed forces. Its purpose was not only to put pressure on the Pakistani army for Imran Khan’s political demands.
The report stated that May 9 was the culmination of a narrative built around a cult of personality. Through this strategy, violence against their opponents was justified as a national service.
On 9 May, a strategy was formulated to attack defense installations with mass force. This gave PTI supporters an opportunity to vent their anger against the armed forces over the no-confidence motion.
According to the caretaker government’s report, Mr. Khan has been holding the military establishment responsible for the downfall of his government for a long time. Even though he was willing to negotiate with this one institution, Mr. Khan repeatedly spoke in his disparaging manner about other political parties and their leaders.
The report said that he has also expressed his desire to negotiate with the military establishment to find a political solution. Mr Khan had refused to respect the army’s constitutional role, which requires it to remain apolitical.
According to the inquiry by the Cabinet Committee of the Caretaker Government, Mr. Khan neither expressed indifference nor condemned the events of May 9 at any stage. Instead they distorted the facts to widen the divide between the people and the armed forces.
The report added that the strategy was based on a simple assumption that a clash between unarmed protestors and the army would lead to anti-military sentiments. Thus, the gulf between the people and the armed forces will widen.
