954 protesters held, 210 vehicles and weapons seized: IGP Rizvi
Islamabad police chief alleges protesters were armed with weapons, including sniper rifles
Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Nasir Rizvi has claimed that 954 protesters were arrested over the three days of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) protest, while 210 vehicles and a large number of weapons were seized.
Holding a joint press conference with Islamabad Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Wednesday, Ali Nasir Rizvi said that protest and terrorism were different things and the two could not be mixed in any way. He added that peaceful protests are held to express one’s point of view and for legitimate reasons, but all kinds of terrorist acts, attacks on police and Rangers and damage to government and private property are not protests.
"Besieging 2.5 million citizens is not a protest," he remarked.
The IGP categorically stated that no kind of terrorist act would be tolerated under the guise of protest, adding that everyone had the right to protest. "But what kind of protest is this where AK-47 and other weapons are used?? If this is a protest then such protests will not be allowed," he asserted.
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Ali Nasir Rizvi said that Islamabad was attacked after the operation that started on November 24, claiming that Rangers and police personnel were targeted and fired at directly. He went on to claim that tear-gas shells and provincial government resources, including police officials and citizens, were used under the guise of protest for "terrorism".
He further alleged that the protesters were armed with weapons, including sniper rifles, and were wearing masks.
In a joint operation, Rizvi said, the police and Rangers arrested 954 protesters in three days, including 610 yesterday alone. Moreover, 210 vehicles and a large number of weapons were seized. The terrorists, in the guise of protesters, had brought in weapons with them that were also used on the police, he alleged.
He further said 71 law enforcement officers were injured, including 52 just on Tuesday. Of these, 27 were shot at and three Rangers personnel martyred. The financial losses due to the protests are in billions of rupees, he added.
Commissioner Randhawa
On this occasion, the chief commissioner said there was a complete procedure laid out for protest in Islamabad, while the high court had also issued an order in this regard. Sangjani could be applied for protest as it is specified for the purpose, he said, adding that the spot was offered on high court orders, but the party said it would protest in any case.
He also claimed that weapons were used in the protest, while many Safe City cameras were destroyed. Green belts and trees were torched and metro stations damaged. On the one hand, international guests were in town, and on the other, the capital was being besieged.
"We tried to stop them at one place. Some police and Rangers personnel have been injured while working for the government's writ," he maintained, adding that containers had been removed in Islamabad and the IGP had been told to keep patrolling all the sensitive spots.
"We will not let any foreigner who hinders the law in Islamabad stay. We will not let anyone stay in Islamabad without security clearance. They also beat up journalists in media houses. There was also news of a petrol station being set on fire, due to which it was closed," Randhawa claimed.
