7 FIRs regarding May 9 incidents to be tried in military courts: Sanaullah.

ISLAMABAD -- Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah shedding light on the May 9 violent protests and providing key statistics regarding the ensuing investigations and arrests Friday revealed that a total of 499 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered in connection with the incidents, and out of those, only six or seven cases would be tried in military courts.

Addressing a press conference here, he said that the trial of 33 individuals involved in the May 9 mayhem had been shifted to the military courts.

They were involved in attacking army installations during the protests that followed the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, he added.

The minister informed that of the 33 individuals, 19 belonged to Punjab, while the remaining 14 were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).

Addressing the concerns raised about the enforcement of the Military Act on civilians, he clarified that military would investigate the cases but not take cognizance of them.

He said that they would determine whether the Army Act or the Official Secrets Act applied in each situation.

He said the Official Secrets Act and the Military Act were applicable to the violation of every defense and military location.

He questioned that how and why the attack on Jinnah House, which was not just residence of military officials but a camp office of the Corps Commander and housed highly sensitive information and data, should be considered a political protest, adding it was the matter of national defence.

He said the matter came within the jurisdiction of the Military Act, which was enforced in 1952, as the miscreants took important items such as laptops that might contain sensitive data, and there were chances that this data and information might get into the hands of the county's enemies.

The minister said over 5,000 individuals were apprehended, with approximately 80% of them already had released on bail.

He added that out of the total arrests, 3,944 were made under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), while 88 cases were specifically registered under the same act.

The minister said Imran Khan had been engaged in divisive politics and spreading false narratives for last many years.

The PTI chief was responsible for the chaos, adding 'I warn of potential disaster if Imran Khan's actions were left unchecked'.

The minister said that toxic politics had infiltrated Pakistani society and was spreading its detrimental effects like an infectious virus.

He noted that this...