Founded in 1996 as a symbol of “change,” Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has repeatedly turned to street agitation that has damaged state institutions and disrupted everyday life. The 9 May 2023 violence—attacks at 62 locations nationwide, causing an estimated ₨ 2 billion in losses—was only the latest and worst chapter in that pattern.
2014: The “Azadi March” and the PTV Headquarters Storming
During the August–December 2014 sit-in in Islamabad, protesters forced their way into the Parliament precincts and seized Pakistan Television’s headquarters, briefly knocking the national broadcast off air. The government called it the first major assault on constitutional institutions; PTI leaders denied orchestrating the breach.
2016: The Failed Islamabad “Lock-Down”
In October–November 2016, PTI vowed to shut down the capital unless a judicial probe into the Panama Papers was announced. Clashes between police and marchers left dozens injured after heavy tear-gas shelling and stone-throwing. When the Supreme Court formed a commission, the promised “lock-down” was re-branded as a “Thank-You Day.”
2018 – 2022: A Politics of Endless Marches
Whether protesting by-elections, alleged rigging, or rising inflation, PTI relied on long marches and sit-ins—most notably the 2020 demonstration outside the Election Commission and the May 2022 march toward Islamabad that again ended in street battles and tear gas.
9 May 2023: The “Black Day” in Detail
| Location | Nature of Attack | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House), Lahore | Mansion torched; historic artefacts destroyed | Symbolic assault on military leadership |
| GHQ Gate, Rawalpindi | Crowd forced entrance; vandalism | First direct breach of army HQ perimeter |
| Askari Tower, Liberty Chowk, Lahore | Commercial plaza set ablaze; one fatality reported | Civilian business hub targeted |
| Radio Pakistan, Peshawar | Building burned; decades of archives lost | Cultural heritage loss |
Punjab Police reported 3,500+ arrests and 150+ injured officers in the province that day alone.
Legal Action and Political Positions
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Terrorism-court indictments have been filed against more than 250 suspects linked to the Lahore incidents.
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A government fact-finding report names dozens of PTI leaders as planners of the violence.
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PTI insists “saboteurs” infiltrated the crowds and labels the cases “political victimization.” Several leaders are free on bail; others remain in custody.
Economic & Security Fallout
Officials value the state and military property damage on 9 May at nearly ₨ 1.98 billion. Economists warn that such unrest undermines foreign investment and tourism, while security agencies argue that turning political dissent into violent attacks amounts to “anti-state activity.”
PTI popularized a protest culture in the name of electoral accountability, but its repeated slide into violence has earned the party a reputation for hostility toward state institutions. For Pakistan’s stability, political disagreement must stay within constitutional bounds. Dissent is the lifeblood of democracy; arson and assaults on military or civilian facilities are not. All sides should let the courts settle responsibility while respecting due process and the rule of law.
Smoke rises after alleged PTI protesters torched Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar on May 9, 2023. Screengrab via Geo News
Just as the country begins to stabilize, PTI once again calls for protests. From the 2014 PTV attack to the Askari Tower arson, how long will this chaos continue? When will the state act?#ImranKhan #PTVAttack #PTIProtest #imrankhanPTI pic.twitter.com/TmOe7LaKK2
— Ali Asghar (@AliAsgh77522420) August 7, 2025
جیسے ہی ملک میں حالات معمول کی طرف بڑھنے لگتے ہیں، پاکستان تحریک انصاف (PTI) ایک بار پھر احتجاج کی کال دے کر سڑکوں پر نکل آتی ہے۔ یہ انتشار پسند ٹولہ ہر اُس وقت سامنے آتا ہے جب ملک کو استحکام کی ضرورت ہوتی ہے۔ 2014 کا پی ٹی وی پر حملہ ہو یا پھر لاہور میں عسکری ٹاور pic.twitter.com/KiCpJBYqcz
— Ali Asghar (@AliAsgh77522420) August 7, 2025
