"We won't apologise to anyone," Asad Qaiser replies to DG ISPR

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seniour leader Asad Qaiser closed doors for talks with the establishment over their request to apologise for May 9 attacks, saying "We won't ask forgiveness from anyone."

A day earlier, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif asked PTI to apologise for the May 9 riots, in which several military and civil installations were vandalised by PTI workers and supporters after the arrest of party founder Imran Khan in a corruption case.

The DG ISPR's remarks came while addressing a fiery press conference over Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

Refuting the notion that the establishment and PTI will hold negotiations, the DG-ISPR said that no talks will be held with the party that mocked national martyrs.

"If any political party or leader or group attacks its army, mocks the nation's martyrs, then no one will talk to them," he said.

"Only way forward for the anarchists [group] is to apologise sincerely, abandon the politics of hate and indulge in constructive politics," Maj Gen Chaudhry added.

However, the PTI lawmaker made it clear that his party would not ask for a pardon.

"[...] We don't apologise to our father so how can we ask for forgiveness from anyone else? We want every institution of the country to respect the constitution of Pakistan," he said in a response to DG ISPR's remarks while talking to a private news channel.

During his presser, the army spokesman also termed PTI an "anarchist group" for vandalising several military installations during May 9 riots.

Following the press conference, a journalist asked the armyman about the delay in punishing May 9 facilitators. The journalist also quoted PTI founder Imran Khan as saying that the May 9 riots were facilitated by Pakistan Army itself.

"May 9 is not only the case of the Pakistan Army, it is the case of the entire people of Pakistan," DG ISPR responded.

"[...] If the perpetrators of May 9 won't be punished than it would be a question mark on the justice system of Pakistan," he added.

“We believe that if we have to maintain trust in the justice system of Pakistan, then May 9 perpetrators must be punished according to the Constitution and the law," the army's spokesman noted.