[4] As the protests suddenly descended into violence and chaos and began attacking law enforcement officers, the government responded with a cellular service and internet blockade and a crackdown against PTI leaders, workers, and supporters, as well as those perceived to be allied to the party's cause within the media and legal fraternity.

In response, PTI supporters and workers began to demonstrate against Khan's arrest in a number of cities, including in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Multan.

[4] Among the buildings damaged in the riots were the torched residence of the Pakistan Army’s IV Corps Commander in Lahore, the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, PAF’s M.M.

[4][7] Punjab Police, utilizing geo-fencing reports, accused Imran Khan and key PTI leaders of orchestrating attacks on the residence of the Lahore corps commander and other critical locations.

Inspector General of Police Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, confirmed the deployment of geo-fencing to monitor these communications, identifying Imran Khan as a principal suspect in planning the assaults.

Additional PTI leaders implicated were Hammad Azhar, Yasmin Rashid, Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, Ejaz Chaudhary, Mian Aslam Iqbal, and Murad Raas, all allegedly in contact with the rioters, providing precise directives for the attacks.

[26][27][28][29] A crackdown was also initiated on vocal women supporters of Khan's party - the most prominent of which was Khadija Shah, a businesswoman and granddaughter of former Pakistani Army Chief, Asif Nawaz Janjua.

[45] Several leading media houses were called to a secret meeting by the Pakistan Army in which they were directed to ban all coverage of Imran Khan.

Imran Riaz Khan, one of the most popular journalists on Pakistani social media, was kidnapped from outside Sialkot Central Jail on 11 May 2023 after being initially detained by Punjab Police.

[49] He has since remained missing as the chief of Punjab Police, Usman Anwar, put the blame on military agencies for his disappearance in front of the Lahore High Court, and expressed his inability to locate the journalist.

[50][53] In the immediate aftermath, the administration attempted to transfer a number of cases to military courts for trial due to the seriousness of the crimes committed during the riots.

[55] The move drew widespread criticism as military courts have been deemed as opaque systems shrouded in secrecy with little regard for human rights and legal Procedures due process by both the United Nations and International Commission of Jurists.

A prominent lawyer, Uzair Bhandari, was abducted and later released after he left Imran Khan's residence after consulting with him on the matter of military courts.

Ali Amin Gandapur, the newly elected Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), demanded a judicial inquiry in his inaugural speech.

[66] Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), endorsed Gandapur's call for a judicial inquiry during a session of the National Assembly.

[73] In July 2024, a comprehensive order issued by Judge Khalid Arshad of the Anti-Terrorism Court linked PTI's founder, Imran Khan, to the orchestration of attacks on military bases, government buildings, and police personnel.

This order disclosed that Khan had directed PTI leaders to incite chaos and apply pressure for his release in the event of his arrest, according to testimonies from two prosecution witnesses.

[74] 9 May incidents (Urdu: 9 مئی کے واقعات) generated trolling on social media which went haywire in country's political scene due to overemphasis on its condemnation by government and ISPR.

[80] PTI also condemned what it described as the unlawful detentions and brutal use of state power against its workers, who were peacefully protesting in observance of the alleged May 9 ‘false flag operation’ across the country.

[83] The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held public gatherings and processions on the first anniversary of the May 9 events,[84] demanding the release of the party’s founding chairman, Imran Khan, and other arrested leaders and workers.

[81] Imran Khan announced plans to take legal action to obtain CCTV footage of the May 9 riots,[85] which he claims could expose the true perpetrators.