ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: Almost 1,400 suspects have been arrested by the Islamabad and Rawalpindi police in a crackdown on the PTI protesters who had marched on the federal capital earlier this week before finally hastily retreating on Tuesday night.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Islamabad police chief Ali Nasir Rizvi and Chief Commissioner Mohammad Ali Randhawa shared the details about the action taken by the law enforcement agencies and the police to stop the PTI march.

The IGP said the PTI protesters allegedly used automatic weapons alongside slingshots to target the law enforcers, adding that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police officials were also part of the protest. He said the alleged presence of foreigners among the protesters was a point of concern. About 37 Afghan nationals have been arrested during the last seven days, including 19 on Tuesday, he added.

Over 200 vehicles were also impounded and about 39 firearms, including Kalashnikovs, were also recovered. “Seventy-one law enforcement officers were injured over the last three days, with 52 of them injured only on Tuesday,” he said, adding, “Of those, 27 have suffered firearm injuries.”

IGP says 71 law enforcers injured over the past three days

Three officials of Rangers embraced martyrdom, he said, adding that almost 167 cameras of the Safe City worth Rs38 million were damaged during the protests. In light of the protests, the police have registered seven cases on different charges, including the anti-terrorism act, and those who participated in the protest, and those who had brought them to the capital would also be booked.

According to the police chief, the Safe City cameras captured over 3,000 vehicles used to bring protesters, weapons, slingshots, and teargas shells. He added that search operations were being conducted to trace these vehicles with the help of surveillance footage.

Replying to a question about the failure of the police to stop the protesters, the IGP said the anti-riot contingents were deployed to intercept protesters not ‘terrorists’. They entered the capital while resorting to firing at the police and Rangers.

According to a list of the deceased and the wounded who were taken to the Polyclinic hospital, all of them had sustained gunshot injuries. Three deceased were identified as Anees Shahzad, Sardar Shafiq, and Abdul Mobeen, residents of Islamabad, D.G. Khan, and Abbottabad.

During the press conference, it was informed that a deadline of December 31 was set for the Afghan nationals to get security clearance and a no-objection certificate from the capital administration to remain in or leave the capital.

‘400 rounded up in Pindi’

On the other hand, the Rawalpindi police said 400 suspects allegedly involved in siege and arson were rounded up during a “grand operation,” and a large number of weapons, ammunition, and communication equipment was allegedly recovered.

A spokesman said the police also recovered “slingshots and ball bearings” from the detained individuals who would be produced before the court, adding that cases were being registered against them.

The majority of the arrests were made on Tuesday night when the security forces launched an operation in Islamabad to clear the D-Chowk and peripheries, forcing the PTI protesters to retreat.

The police said many of the PTI protesters were captured while they were entering the limits of the Rawalpindi district during the crackdown in Islamabad. According to the spokesperson, at least 800 suspects had been arrested across Punjab. “No compromise can be made on the supremacy of law, law and order, and protection of life and property of citizens,” said the spokesman.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2024