Pakistan

Tarar & Daniyal deny PTI’s claims of violence, highlight arrests

Tarar also criticized PTI leaders for fueling violence, stating that PTI workers had used weapons.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage, and Culture, Attaullah Tarar, along with Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Barrister Daniyal Chaudhry, on Wednesday strongly rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) claims regarding the killing of its workers during recent violent protests at D-Chowk. Both ministers accused PTI of spreading false propaganda to incite unrest and disrupt the visits of foreign dignitaries.

Tarar dismissed PTI’s allegations that law enforcement agencies were responsible for the deaths of party workers, calling it “totally baseless propaganda.” He stated that the PTI had concocted a fake narrative following the deaths of Rangers personnel, and refuted claims of crossfire, which he said were part of an effort to create a false victimization story. Tarar pointed out that PTI’s leadership, including Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, had fled the scene to avoid arrest while the violence continued, resulting in the deaths of four Rangers and two police officers, as well as injuries to over 150 security personnel.

Tarar also criticized PTI leaders for fueling violence, stating that PTI workers had used weapons, slingshots, and sharp objects to attack law enforcement agencies, leading to the arrest of 37 Afghan nationals and dozens of criminals involved in terrorism and theft. He alleged that the violence was part of a pre-planned conspiracy aimed at sabotaging the Belarusian president’s visit and causing instability in the capital. The minister accused PTI of relying on the establishment’s support to stage their sit-ins, referring to the 2014 protests as a precedent for such tactics.

Meanwhile, Daniyal Chaudhry echoed similar sentiments, categorically rejecting PTI’s claims of widespread killings at D-Chowk. He stressed that the operation to disperse the protesters was unarmed and aimed at preventing casualties. According to Chaudhry, PTI had falsely politicized the deaths of its workers to discredit the government. He claimed that no protesters were killed by gunfire, and the fatalities occurred while fleeing the scene.

Chaudhry accused PTI of attempting to incite violence with the goal of disrupting government operations and the peace process. He highlighted that PTI had brought in paid protesters, some of whom were hardened criminals, and engaged in street firing, resulting in the destruction of government property and police vehicles. A total of 900 criminals, including 37 Afghan nationals, were arrested during the protests, and Chaudhry confirmed that the protesters had even attacked police personnel, leading to the deaths of six security officers.

Read More: Atta Tarar slams PTI for promoting chaos, highlights govt’s progress

Both ministers emphasized that the government had shown restraint in dealing with the violence, despite the provocation from PTI. They also condemned the destruction of public property, including media houses, and vowed to ensure that no one would be allowed to disrupt peace or hinder economic progress. Tarar and Chaudhry further stated that the actions of PTI had been widely rejected by the people of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, who had refused to support the violent protests, marking a significant rejection of PTI’s “politics of lies, hypocrisy, and violence.”

The ministers’ statements underscored the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order, holding those responsible for the violence accountable, and ensuring that such disruptions would not undermine the stability of the nation.

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