ISLAMABAD: The government labeled the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) a party of “anarchists and saboteurs” and announced plans to intensify measures against the opposition to prevent what it termed “anti-state protests” in the future.
At a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, it was decided to register cases against Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for their involvement in leading the PTI’s march from Peshawar to Islamabad. The march resulted in violent clashes that left several dead, including four security personnel.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, federal ministers, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Syed Asim Munir, and senior security officials attended the meeting. This marked the third consecutive three-day meeting focused on the law and order situation following the PTI’s march, which was aimed at pressuring the government to release former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
According to sources, the meeting decided to register cases against PTI leaders and workers allegedly responsible for the deaths of security personnel and attacks on Islamabad during the march, which coincided with the official visit of Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a task force led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to identify individuals involved in the violent protests and ensure they face strict legal action. Other task force members include Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and senior security officials.
An official press release from the Prime Minister’s Office stated, “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a task force under the leadership of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to identify those responsible for the recent violence in Islamabad and take strict action against them.”
Additionally, the government decided to establish a Federal Riot-Control Force equipped with professional training and advanced equipment to prevent future incidents of violence. A Federal Forensic Lab will also be set up to utilize modern technology in investigating and collecting evidence of such events.
The Islamabad Safe City project is set to undergo modernization to improve its efficiency. The meeting noted the project’s current inadequacies, particularly its poor-quality cameras, which struggle to identify individuals, especially at night or inside vehicles. Plans were also announced to strengthen the federal prosecution service to better handle cases related to such incidents.
