- Naqvi visited D-Chowk to review the security arrangements.
- Blames KP government for supplying tear gas shells to PTI protesters.
- Security czar urges PTI not to shed blood.
ISLAMABAD: After the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest turned violent in Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi claimed that the party founded by Imran Khan was controlled by “a secret leadership”, although some of its leaders are ready to hold on. talks.
“The entire PTI leadership does not want bloodshed and is not willing to negotiate,” the security czar said while talking to the media at D-Chowk, Islamabad on Tuesday. “Only a secret management sits there and controls everything. »
The interior minister said the “secret hand” would not succeed because “it is the root of chaos and has a different agenda”. He urged the former ruling party not to shed blood.
Naqvi visited D-Chowk to review the security arrangements up to Shaheed Millat Chowk.
Despite continuous shelling from miscreants, the security czar arrived at Shaheed Millat Chowk and met the personnel on duty. He stood alongside the staff during the bombing, boosting their morale and urging them to bravely counter the miscreants.
Naqvi also accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of supplying tear gas bombs to PTI protesters which are used against law enforcers.
The security official said the police should tackle the current situation at their discretion. “IG has all the powers to manage them. We had offered the protesters to go to Sangjani, but they used dialogue to gain time and make further progress,” he said.
It is worth mentioning here that the federal government proposed to the former ruling party to stage their sit-in in Sangjani and warned them of strict action if they failed to comply with the orders a day ago .
The interior minister confirmed that four security officials, including three Rangers personnel and a policeman, were killed a day ago during clashes between PTI protesters and law enforcement agencies.
Besides, several other law enforcement personnel from Rangers and Punjab Police were seriously injured in the clashes, he added.
He stressed that the government did not want to see loss of lives and also urged the former ruling party not to indulge in bloodshed.
Earlier in the day, the federal government deployed the army to the capital amid escalating violence during protests by the main opposition party.
The Home Ministry issued a notification invoking Article 245, authorizing the army to help maintain law and order and deal with miscreants with an iron fist. The notification also empowers the army to impose curfew wherever necessary to combat lawlessness.
Sources said security forces were also allowed to shoot miscreants and troublemakers on sight.
The PTI supporters entered the federal capital following the appeal of their jailed party founder, to gather at D-Chowk in the capital and stay there until their demands are met. The release of the imprisoned ex-Prime Minister, among other things, is what the party is seeking.
A security lockdown was imposed in the federal capital for the last two days to prevent PTI convoys from entering the federal capital, while highways leading to the city were barricaded.
The party founded by Imran Khan has marched in the federal capital several times in recent months, which has seen its workers clash with law enforcement agencies (LEA).