Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday labeled ex-premier Imran Khan as the mastermind behind the May 9 violence, which he claimed the 1992 Cricket World Cup-winning captain orchestrated to oust the military leadership of the Islamic nation.
The violent demonstrations that broke out following his arrest in Islamabad dragged on for over four days, and targeted the South Asian country's powerful military leadership, as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief's supporters ransacked its headquarters in Rawalpindi.
The military, subsequently, took a tough line on the incidents, calling it a "Black Day" in Pakistan's history.
Against this backdrop, Sharif said that Khan had plotted the upheaval that took place on May 9.
"Those involved in the May 9 incidents wanted to overthrow the military leadership," the Pakistan PM said, speaking to GEO News.
He alleged that the rioters intended to cause "anarchy" and "war" in Pakistan.
Sharif's harsh remarks against the former Prime Minister come at a time when his government has intensified its crackdown against those responsible for cases of arson.
While trials of more than 100 people are running in military courts, the Pakistan Army has also sacked three high-ranking officials, including a lieutenant general.
On the other hand, Khan has dubbed the events of May 9 as a conspiracy cooked up to unleash a brutal crackdown on his political party.