PTI Protesters Were Armed with Modern Weapons, Resulting in the Death of One Police Officer and Three Rangers: Captain (R) Khurram Agha
ISLAMABAD ( WEB NEWS )
Secretary of the Interior, Captain (R) Muhammad Khurram Agha, stated that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters were equipped with modern weapons, which led to the martyrdom of one police officer and three Rangers personnel. He rejected any claims that the protesters were fired upon, emphasizing that law enforcement agencies showed great patience during the protest. He made these remarks during a press conference alongside Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar. Also present were the Inspector General of Islamabad, Syed Nasir Ali Rizvi, and the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa.
The Secretary of the Interior explained that any protest or demonstration requires a seven-day advance application to determine the venue for the event, but PTI did not submit such an application. He mentioned that even during the protest, they were reminded that if they submitted a request, it could still be approved. He further stated that the government has a duty to protect the lives and property of citizens, and also safeguard important buildings and embassies located in the Red Zone, which was why a security plan was devised accordingly.
He acknowledged that all law enforcement agencies exhibited significant restraint, despite being provoked by the protesters. However, he pointed out that the protesters were armed with modern weapons, which they used, and also heavily shelled and threw stones at the police. He mentioned that the protesters set fire to trees in Blue Area, causing significant damage to public property and assets. During the protest, three Rangers and one police constable were martyred.
Special security measures were taken in the Red Zone, with the deployment of the Pakistan Army, as the President of Belarus was also present. He firmly rejected any claims that live ammunition was used against the protesters.
Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Sunday dared the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to share the video evidence with the public which could prove that the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) had opened straight firing on its protestors who descended on Islamabad a couple of days ago.
“I have shared the video evidence that show how a person from the protest told the protestors to open indiscriminate firing on the police. Now, I challenge the PTI to share one video of straight firing or live ammunition by the LEAs against the protestors,” said the minister while addressing a news conference.
The minister was flanked by Federal Secretary for Interior Khurram Ali Agha, IG Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Ali Randhawa. Different videos were palyed during the press conference that shown how the PTI protestors used guns, shells and marbles against the LEAs.
Tarar categorically rejected the propaganda being peddled by the PTI on the social media regarding the direct firing on protestors, saying it was the PTI which brought professional criminals and Afghan Nationals to the protest to ensure that there would be a bloodshed in the whole city.