Punish if I'm guilty, grant relief if innocent, says PTI's Shah Mahmood Qureshi

• Judicial commission urged for May 9 incident.
• Dialogue called crucial for political resolution.
• Relief demanded for detained PTI leaders.

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi has called for justice as he has been behind bars for one-and-a-half years.

"If I am guilty, punish me... if I am innocent, grant me relief," said Qureshi during an informal media talk at an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Friday. He is currently incarcerated in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore.

Qureshi, the former foreign minister, criticised the government's approach to handling political dissent and called for dialogue. "The PTI is a major political party, and banning it would be foolish," he said.

Qureshi further demanded a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, ensuring accountability for those responsible. 

During the protests on May 9, miscreants targeted the civil and military installations including — Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military termed May 9 "Black Day" and decided to try the PTI protesters under the Army Act.

PTI founder Imran Khan, however, blames “agencies' men” for arson and shooting in some areas during the May 9 violent protests.

Qureshi also called for relief for other detained party leaders, including Yasmin Rashid and Ijaz Chaudhry.

"A conducive environment for negotiations can only emerge if the government changes its tone," the senior PTI leader added.

Qureshi's statement came a day after the embattled party’s chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, blamed the incumbent government for the failure of the talks after both sides "established initial contacts" to settle political disputes.

The PTI chief said that the biggest reason for the talks failure was Khan's rearrest after he secured bail from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in new Toshakhana case last month.

Speaking on Geo News programme “Capital Talk”, Gohar, however, said that "there is still time" for matters to be resolved amicably via talks and dismissed the government’s allegations against ex-PM Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi for becoming a hurdle in reaching a "deal".

The legal woes of the Imran Khan-founded party have increased after its "final call" protest in Islamabad last week as several PTI leaders, including jailed ex-premier, were booked in new cases.

The government and the major opposition party traded blames for the violence during the much-hyped protest that left four law enforcers dead in Islamabad last month.

On the other hand, the former ruling party has since claimed that at least 12 of its workers were killed and 1,000 were arrested.

However, the government has categorically denied using live ammunition against the protesters.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led federal government has time and again asked the PTI to "sit across the table and talk", but its founder turned the offer, stating that the party will only hold talks with those wielding real power.