Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has accused Imran Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), of attempting to disrupt the peace in Islamabad through recent protests. In a press conference on Sunday, Tarar specifically pointed fingers at Murad Saeed, a PTI member, alleging that he orchestrated the disturbances from his hiding place within the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar.
Tarar’s accusations center around the protests that took place on November 24th in Islamabad. He claims that Saeed led a group of armed Afghan nationals and troublemakers during these demonstrations, attempting to create chaos and unrest. The minister asserted that the protests were staged to mask the PTI's political failures and mislead the public.
Tarar condemned the involvement of trained criminals and Afghan nationals in what he called a “final call” for protest aimed at destabilizing Pakistan. He questioned the timing of the demonstrations, suggesting they were strategically planned during the visit of a foreign dignitary.
He further stated that intelligence reports indicated possible attempts to provoke violence and casualties during the protests. Tarar also criticized the use of provincial government funds allocated from taxpayers for organizing these unlawful protests.
During his press conference, Tarar addressed claims of shootings by security forces during the protests, stating that no evidence supported these allegations. He emphasized that hospital records confirmed no deaths caused by law enforcement personnel. He claimed that 37 Afghan nationals were involved in the protests and that authorities seized 45 firearms from the demonstrators.
Tarar labeled the protest as “illegal” as it was not permitted by the Islamabad High Court. He accused PTI leaders of using propaganda to cover up their political failures and evade accountability. He also denounced claims made by international media regarding the supposed "killings" during the protests, stating that they were part of a smear campaign.
He asserted that the state will always uphold the rule of law and maintain order, despite these challenges. Tarar revealed that the protests resulted in significant financial losses to Pakistan, estimating the damage at PKR 192 billion.
In closing, Tarar expressed his admiration for the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa who rejected the call for protests. He proposed the formation of a task force by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate false claims and hold accountable those spreading misinformation. He maintained that the government is committed to serving the people and upholding truth and justice.
Interior Secretary Khurram Ali Agha echoed Tarar's sentiments, refuting claims that law enforcement officers opened fire on protesters. He stressed that security forces exercised restraint despite the violent actions of PTI supporters who used various weapons and damaged public property. Agha clarified that the military deployment in the Red Zone area was solely to maintain order, and no firearm-related deaths occurred during the protests.
He also dismissed allegations of gunfire by law enforcement, attributing any gunshots to protesters themselves. Agha firmly stated that claims of casualties were part of a larger false narrative intended to mislead the public.
