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PTI, PAT protesters storm PTV headquarters
ISLAMABAD: Charged protesters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) on Monday broke into the headquarters of the Pakistan Television (PTV), a state-owned media enterprise.
As soon as angry protesters entered the news headquarters of the state-owned television channel, they took over the programming control room and transmission was taken off air temporarily. It was later restored after the army stepped in to vacate the building.
Protesters were also seen trashing the office and spitting on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s portrait.
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| Protesters hit a poster bearing the image of PM Nawaz with shoes after storming the headquarters of PTV. — Photo by AFP |
In a series of tweets, Radio Pakistan described the ongoing situation at the PTV headquarters.
Shakeel, a producer at PTV Karachi office, told Dawn that transmission from Karachi was on air.
Army was called in to bring out the protesters who began to come out of the channel’s HQ after the troops asked them to leave. No violence was reported during the evacuation.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan later said that those who stormed the PTV headquarters' premises could not belong to his party.
Imran, Qadri instigated attack on PTV: Rashid
Following the attack on state run PTV, the federal government termed it an act of "aggression and violence".
The government said that action would be taken in accordance with the law against those responsible for the attack.
"Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri cannot absolve themselves from this act of lawlessness as their workers acted on what both the leaders were instigating from last 17 days", said Pervaiz Rashid, Federal Minister for Information.
"The attack on our national television network is not only deplorable but also barbaric", the minister said.
He also said that bringing such a threat and destruction to a state asset is not justifiable.
"They have agitated their workers and provoked them to violence. They are both responsible and will have to face the law", Rashid said.
Comments (36) Closed
Congratulation Dr. Qadri and Ik for the Naya Pakistan. My vote was wasted on IK once again false hopes were given.
This is peaceful protest as never seen before. IK keeps shooting himself in the foot (or is being remote-controlled).
Must congratulate IK and Qadri for such PEACEFUL PROTESTS !
May Allah save Pakistan
All IK and Qadri are doing is to provoke an action from the Government. And when it responds in self-defense, their actions are frowned upon. Of-course, the followers are SO 'Masoom'. So 'Masoom' that they have been taken for a ride by the two leaders.
The PTV Building has been cleared. PAT workers need to cool down. Imran Khan rightly condemned this intrusion. PTI workers are very few in numbers as they usually join in evening. Hopefully things are settled peacefully and this crisis ends today with a peaceful solution. Nawaz Shareef should at least go on a leave so that this crisis ends, things move forward and the rigging and Model Town investigations take place and that the country moves forward. Nawaz Shareef has to act as the bigger man on the occasion and at least go on a leave. Police brutality on media and protesters should stop at a time where almost 500 people got injured and few died. Media should be allowed to make fresh videos.
Imran Khan & Qadri are bent upon destroying the economy of Pakistan they are working for some foreign agenda.Also with Dandas in their hand they are peaceful???? If you believe them then it is TRAGEDY for our beloved nation.
Army must intervene & put these leaders in jail.Have a referendum & most people will agree.Also NAWAZ SHARIF should quit because is not fit for DEMOCRACY.
Law should take its course and people who entered the PTV building should be punished. But government should not make this an excuse to crackdown on large number of protesters who are peaceful.
When tyrants leaders don't have an ear to grieved and oppressed people, then this is bound to happen, present govt. must be held accountable for all this, for their ego and love for power ignited these people. They never came out with an honest positive offer, a liar cannot be PM of this country. Everyone on this platform accusing IK and TUQ must ask themselves, if your women been killed then what would you do, specially when govt took 2 months to register FIR, never uttered a word of condolence. This is bound to happen, oppressor must be thrown out.
Brace yourself for the new Pakistan. This is our non-violent protesters i mean waaaaaooooo!!!. Someone Saying these all places are build from our taxes we have the right to enter in it Yes my friends you are right JAILS of pakistan is also made by your taxes so kindly visit them too in near future
Prevailing circumstances showing that Pakistan is not Democratic Country because Protesters have their rights and have some problems that why they protesting against GOVT
Peaceful protesters are at PTV and having a very peaceful coffee in the peaceful environment of very peaceful caf
Peaceful protesters are at PTV and having a very peaceful coffee in the peaceful environment of very peaceful caf
the army told them to leave the premises and they left!!
how much more peaceful do you want??
if you will shoot at them, fire poisonous gas, teargas them try to kill them than only a PML N noora will remain peaceful i suppose right?
please see how the army is managing the situation, police should learn!
Imran and TUQ should be booked on Terror charges and should be send to Jail. We have enough of Imran and TUQ nonsense
PTI and PAT have set new meaning to word PEACE
@Khan-Haqiqi they should be book on terror charges what about the model town...they were no human why you ppl forget the root cause...when poors dont get justice they will do anything......you cant get into their shoes....had your beloved one died in these clashes then i would have seen your reaction (jin ka log martay hain aur un ko insaf nahi milta tu phir wo yea nahi sochtay k law kiya aur rule kiya hai), whatever is happening, Govt is responsible for that...
Don't know what is Government waiting for. The govt should immediately arrest these leaders IK and TQ. I don't think any investment or investors will be coming into Pakistan.
Do Imran and Qadri actually believe that an elected PM just resigns because there is a "long march", even if Sheriff is not the right choice to lead the country.
People of Pakistan should stand up against these two (IK & TuQ). Their aim seems to destroy Pakistan.
Every action has a reaction. In Pakistan a little more than necessary.
All the good things (If any) are done by PTI workers and all the bad things are done by somebody else.......Good going kaptan sahib good going
Shouldn't the police arrest the PTI abd PAT workers who have occupied the PTV building. I guess the are peaceful dacoits!
Dawn should be careful before putting out such news.
What do you expect, their brothers and sisters were shot at by police, this was bound to happen. It was a peaceful protest for 16 days till govt started the action. Govt keeps making mistakes.
This was planned by the government. Those were not PTI and PAT workers. There are credibles evidences that some government ministers planned this attack.
Think about it.
Only PTV building was left without police?
Those illeterate people knew which cable to cut to stop the transmission?
Government ministers faced zero resistance from the crowd while entering PTV?
There is a limit to everything. Gow low this government will go. Shameless
Army which cannot protect state institution, how can it protect the country.Dirty politics everywhere.
This was a conspiracy .. this act wasn't done by PTI/PAT supporters .. go see ARY they are showing the real story!
Truly disgusting . Imran who wants to become PM is now so desperate. But why . ARY channel is supporting him to the hilt. Perhaps Mubashir Luqman is a liability for Imran and not an asset , otherwise why would PTI need to occupy PTV. ha ha ha
@Abbas mubasir lucman is showing the "real story" like his planted interview of malik riaz?
Pre-planned by Marvi and Co.
PTV station attack may have staged by the PML-N government to justify the previous night terror by the Punjab Police on peaceful march of PAT/PTI.
So Marvi memon and parvaiz Rashid were behind this incident. And idiots here are already jumping to conclusions. This was done to make IK and TUQ look bad, I will be waiting for the comments when the truth is brought forward.
well are building that important??. so a person dies or mob storm building , well they are shaken by mob storming the building because man dies everyday
This was a genuine protest-have you seen the programmes.
Ghar ko aag lag gayee ghar key charaag sey
The how was burnt by its own lamps