ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/PESHAWAR: As violent protests erupted in the aftermath of arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan continued for the second consecutive day on Wednesday and at least four persons dead and dozens injured in different incidents of arson and vandalism.
As per details, protests in Peshawar turned violent and at least four persons dead in different incidents. However, it could not be confirmed whether the deceased persons were PTI workers or common citizens.
“Four bullet-riddled bodies were received by the emergency room doctors,” informed a spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital (LHR), saying as many as 27 others were under treatment for traumatic injuries related to agitation.
Radio Pakistan Building Set On Fire
Hundreds of violent protesters Wednesday attacked the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar.
Director General of Radio Pakistan, Tahir Hussian, confirmed that the building of the state media in Peshawar was attacked by violent protesters.
He said that the protesters wreaked havoc in the newsroom and various other sections of the radio station.
“The miscreants entered the newsroom and radio audio room and set fire to the furniture inside,” he said, adding that mob also attacked the staff at the office.
Vehicles parked in the building of Radio Pakistan were also set on fire, while the miscreants damaged and looted government property, including cameras, microphones and other office equipment.
The violent protesters had attacked the Radio Pakistan building on Tuesday also.
Following the violent protests, at least 30 people were arrested in Peshawar, police confirmed, adding that cases had been registered against the alleged miscreants.
According to the police, the cases are registered on charges of damaging public and private property, vehicles, metro buses and government ambulances.
Provisions of arson, stone pelting, vandalism and attacks on the police have also been registered.
Identification of rioters and arsonists from CCTV footage and other sources is underway, the police said.
Mobile data services were shut for a second day while Twitter, YouTube and Facebook were disrupted, as security forces tried to restore order after violence killed one person late on Tuesday.
The government said PTI workers had attacked important state buildings and damaged private and public vehicles.
“This can’t be tolerated, the law will take its course,” Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal told a news conference. “These violent attacks were not the outcome of any public outpouring, they were planned by the PTI rank and file.”
Interior ministry approves military assistance
The Ministry of Interior has approved the Punjab government’s request for assistance by sanctioning ten companies of troops, saying: “The army would be working alongside district administration to restore law, order and peace”.
The order issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior stated: “Pursuant to the request made by the Home Department Government of Punjab, vide their letter No.SO(IS-II)3-15/2023 (Security) (1) Dated 9 May 2023, the federal government in excise of powers conferred under article 245 of the constitution and Section 4 (3) (ii) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, (to discharge such functions as specified in the said act), is pleased to authorise the deployment of Pakistan Army troops/assets for maintaining law and order situations across the Punjab province in aid of civil power.”
The exact number of troops/assets, date and area of deployment will be worked out by the provincial government in consultation with the MO Dte, GHQ, it added.
“The date of the de-requisition of said deployment will be decided subsequently after mutual consultation between both stakeholders,” the notification said.
945 arrested for hooliganism in Punjab
In a separate statement, Punjab police said action had been taken against those attacking government property, police force and law enforcement agencies in the province.
“Miscreants involved in violent acts, vandalism, damage to public and private property throughout the province have been arrested,” the notification said, adding that they had “seriously injured” more than 130 police officers and law enforcement personnel during the violent operations.
The spokesperson then shared: “Police teams have arrested 945 law breakers and miscreants from across the province.”
The Punjab police spokesperson said: “More than 25 vehicles of the police and government agencies were destroyed and burnt.”
Protesters had attacked more than 14 government buildings, looting and causing serious damage to government property, he shared.
Furthermore, Punjab Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar shared that strict legal action is being taken against those who challenge the writ of the state and the law.
He reaffirmed that those who injure citizens, police officers and personnel and damage property “will be brought to justice”.
PTI slams Punjab caretaker govt for calling in army
Reacting to the news, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi slammed the federal government and questioned: How did the army become available for deployment in Punjab, when earlier it was said it was “too busy” [to perform election duty]?
“We have serious concerns about threats to the life of chairman Imran Khan. Our leader is in the custody of those who threatened him. Secondly, till yesterday, the army was very busy and was not available for the elections, but what has happened that the army has been deployed in Punjab and KP today? The nation is not stupid,” Qureshi tweeted.
Islamabad’s Ramna police station, one APC set on fire: police
Islamabad police say the capital’s “Ramna police station is being set on fire” while an armoured personnel carrier has already been burned.
Police claimed in a statement on Twitter that protesters were firing at law enforcers in the area and asked residents not to step out of their houses unnecessarily.
PTI former MNA Aliya Hamza arrested
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) former Member of National Assembly (MNA) Aliya Hamza Malik on Wednesday was arrested from her residence in Islamabad.
As per details, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA was arrested from her Islamabad residence.
Earlier in the day, PTI leader Asad Umar was arrested from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC). Umar was arrested from the IHC as he reached to file a petition to seek a meeting with PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The former finance minister was arrested by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Islamabad police. Sources said that Umar was arrested under section 16 of the Maintenance of the Public (MPO).
PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said that Umar was taken into custody from outside the IHC Bar Association’s office, adding the case in which the PTI leader was arrested is still unclear.
Punjab govt closes colleges, universities
The caretaker Punjab government has announced the closure of colleges and universities across the province for two days due to deteriorated law and order situation.
The caretaker government of Punjab made important decisions regarding the regular academic sessions at the educational institutions after protests sparked across the province. It has been decided to close colleges and universities for two days, however, medical colleges will remain open.
The provincial government will decide on regular classes of schools tonight.
The decisions were taken in a high-level session chaired by Punjab caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi today in which the participants reviewed the law and order situation.
It has been decided to adopt zero tolerance policy for miscreants, whereas, military troops will be summoned in Mianwali for maintaining law and order. The security measures of the sensitive locations will be enhanced and terrorism cases will be registered against the miscreants.
Police nab 60 political workers: DIG Quetta
The Balochistan police have arrested at least 60 political workers so far after protests erupted in different areas of Quetta over the arrest of former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan.
According to DIG Quetta Azfar Mahesar, one political worker was killed while 35 people sustained injuries including 31 police personnel.
He added that political workers had stormed the streets of Quetta and vandalised property apart from attacking law enforcement agencies personnel.
The police officer confirmed that a case was registered against all 60 arrested persons.
Meanwhile, Balochistan police spokesperson Aslam Nasir said 31 policemen were injured including SP CTD, DSP Cantt, and four other SHOs due to the pelting of stones by protestors on May 9.
Civil Hospital Spokesperson Dr Waseem Baig said one person had passed away while five injured persons were shifted for medical treatment.
Even though the PTI had given a protest call and announced a shutter-down strike, the flow of traffic in the city was normal. Apart from the two universities, all the educational institutions functioned as per normal routine. Markets, shops, and offices also remained open.
PTI leaders booked in Muzaffargarh
Muzaffargarh police have booked PTI supporters and leaders, including Jamshed Dasti and Nawazada Mansoor Ahmed Khan, on allegations of raising slogans against the incumbent government and damaging vehicles and property.
The first information report, registered on behalf of Inspector Zaki Rehan of Muzaffargarh police station, has been registered under Sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 148 (rioting while armed with deadly weapons), 149 (every member of an unlawful assembly guilty of an offence committed in the prosecution of a common objective) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
It also invokes Section 16 (dissemination of rumours) of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 and Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
