ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army was deployed in Islamabad under Article 245 of the Constitution to secure key government installations, protect foreign diplomats in the sensitive Red Zone, and ensure a safe environment for high-profile foreign dignitaries during the November 24 PTI protest.
The Ministry of Interior has issued a detailed statement clarifying that there was no confrontation between the Pakistan Army and protesters during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) November 24 march to Islamabad.
The statement, released in response to the violence that unfolded, sheds light on the developments surrounding the protest and the role of PTI’s leadership in inciting unrest.
According to the Ministry, discussions with PTI leadership took place before the march, which was organised following an order from the Islamabad High Court (IHC). However, the protest quickly escalated into violence, with trained miscreants and illegal Afghan nationals allegedly involved. The Ministry stated that around 1,500 hardline individuals, led by fugitive Murad Saeed, engaged in militant-like tactics, using resources from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to attack law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
On 26 November, it added, as protesting miscreants reached Red Zone, violating the lawful orders of the IHC, the situation escalated and they directly clashed multiple times with LEAs using firearms, tear gas shells, stun grenades, steel slingshots, and nail-studded batons etc.
Alarmingly, the statement read, certain elements of foreign media also fell prey to this fake news and propaganda without any credible evidence. The government functionaries including Ministers as well as Chief Commissioner ICT and senior police officials. Those who were directly involved in these riot control operations, have already repeatedly explained and clarified the actual situation and events unfolding with credible evidence. It said that it may also be noted that the “use of lethal means by LEAs if at all to be employed, was best suited at multiple route blocks rather than within Red Zone under complete media and public glare.”
“Officers and jawans of LEAs embraced shahadat, sustained injuries and risked their lives enduring grave physical hardships for multiple days to protect the lives and properties of citizens of Pakistan,” it read, adding still many jawans of Rangers and Police are critically injured and are receiving medical care.
The statement said that it is concerning to note that 39 lethal weapons including 18 automatic weapons have been recovered from the violent protesters and that amongst the apprehended offenders there are more than three dozen paid aliens.
