PTI CONVOYS ENTER ISLAMABAD AMID VIOLENT CLASHES WITH POLICE In partnership with
Tuesday, 26 November, 2024 I | 23 Jamadi ul Awwal, 1446
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NO TALKS WITH PTI UNDERWAY, STRICT ACTION IF RED LINES CROSSED: MOHSIN NAQVI ISLAMABAD
MIAN ABRAR
HOUSANDS of Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) workers entered the federal capital from at least three sides removing all barricades, obstacles and hurdles coming in their way. The PTI rally led by Bushra Bibi, Ali Amin Gandapur and Shehryar Khan Afridi entered following another convoy led by party workers including Umar Amin Gandapur, Saddam Tareen and others entered Islamabad. Another rally led by Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan had joined the main rally at Hazara Interchange and the trio removed all barricades to enter the federal capital in the evening. PTI workers from G-10, G-9 and G8 sectors welcomed the party rally at Chungi No 26 where they removed all the barricades, paving the way to march towards D Chowk.
However, the rally was yet to arrive at the heart of the federal capital till the filing of this report as party leaders had directed them to stay at Chungi No 26 as dialogue was underway with the federal government. No talks with PTI underway at any level: Naqvi Amid rumours of several rounds of talks between the PTI and the federal government, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi insisted he was unaware of any dialogue with the PTI leaders, saying that some meetings had taken place between PTI’s Gohar Khan and Imran Khan. He warned that the federal government would not allow PTI to hold a sit-in at D Chowk and warned that the government would have to take strict action if its red lines are crossed. He said that the government had asked the PTI to go and hold a sit in at Sangjani area and Imran Khan had also agreed to the proposal but the government was still awaiting for PTI’s response.
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He said that even PTI founder had recorded a video message but it seemed there were others in PTI who were more powerful than PTI founder. However, PTI secretary information Shekih Waqas Akram contradicted this claim of Mr Naqvi and said no such video message was recorded by Imran Khan. Meanwhile, sources insisted that there had been talks with PTI delegation led by party Chairman Gohar Khan and Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Rana Sanaullah. He also warned anyone who entered D Chowk would be arrested. Talks fail to make headway: Sources However, the sources said that the first round of talks have failed as Imran Khan is adamant on his demands. PTI delegation led by Gohar Khan held another meeting with Imran Khan at Tuesday midnight and sought fresh directions on the talks.
POLICE CONSTABLE DIES, RANGERS OFFICIAL INJURED IN CLASHES
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PM for bringing to justice those involved ‘A revolution brewing’: PTI slams ruling in policeman’s murder elite's 'hateful propaganda' ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday condemned the killing of a police constable by protesters and expressed solidarity with the slain officer’s family. Prime Minister Sharif extended his condolences to the family of Constable Mubashir Shaheed, who was fatally injured in violent clashes, and prayed for the officer’s soul. Sharif ordered authorities to swiftly identify and bring those involved in the incident to justice. He also directed officials to ensure the best possible medical care for other police personnel injured by stone pelting and violence allegedly instigated by the demonstrators.
“The attack on police in the name of so-called peaceful protest is condemnable,” the prime minister said, adding that officers were working to maintain law and order. He criticised the protesters for endangering lives and claimed that the same elements behind the May 9 riots were once again engaging in violence. “Constable Mubashir’s life and his family’s future have been shattered by those who wish to destabilise the country,” Sharif said, paying tribute to the 46-yearold officer. He warned that violent acts in the guise of protests only serve to derail national progress, calling out the protesters for harming Pakistan’s development efforts. STAFF REPORT
Pakistan, Belarus FMs reaffirm commitment to promote mutually beneficial cooperation
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Monday met his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov here, wherein
two sides underlined the importance of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to promote mutually beneficial cooperation. In the meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed bilateral and regional issues and the agenda and
the programme of the visit of President Lukashenko to Pakistan, who is scheduled to arrive here later in the day. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the momentum of bilateral exchanges and high-level visits between Pakistan and Belarus and expressed the hope that President Lukashenko’s visit would further boost bilateral relations. The ministers also discussed key regional and global developments, including the situation in the Middle East. They expressed their support for a peaceful resolution of conflicts and underlined the need for a coordinated approach to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The two sides emphasized the importance of enhanced cooperation in international and regional organizations to advance mutual interest and jointly address global challenges.
party was pursuing its agenda of “violence” to start the “politics of dead bodies”, she said. Bokhari said that the state was exhibiting patience and tolerance towards the protesters and the policemen were unarmed following the directives of the Punjab chief minister. “We will not let them storm the capital,” she vowed, adding that about 80 of Khan’s supporters had been arrested. She also censured the Imran Khan-founded party for “attacking the state” and on the other hand, showing willingness to hold negotiations. Opposing talks with the PTI,
Bokhari said that any negotiations with them would only encourage them to continue violence. “We welcome Bushra Bibi to politics,” said the provincial minister, blaming the former first lady for inciting violence and using “religion card” as she addressed the PTI protesters’ caravan led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur heading towards the federal capital. On the other hand, the PTI accused the government of using violent tactics to block the protesters, saying it had arrested hundreds of workers and leaders. It also claimed that scores of its workers were also hurt due to the use of force by police officials. Authorities have enforced a security lockdown for the last two days to block the protesters, whom jailed PTI founder Imran Khan has called on to march on parliament for a sit-in demonstration to demand his release, while highways into the city have been barricaded. The government has used shipping containers to block major roads and streets in Islamabad, most of them patrolled by large contingents of police and paramilitary personnel in riot gear.
Punjab minister says policeman killed by ‘violent’ PTI protesters LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is planning to stage May 9-like violent protests in the country, as its supporters clashed with “unarmed” policemen performing security duties during their much-hyped “final call” protest. The PTI supporters are rallying towards the federal capital on the call of their jailed party founder Imran Khan to gather at D-Chowk in the capital and stay there until their demands are met. The release of jailed ex-premier among other issues is what the party seeks. “They want May 9 Part-II,” said the provincial minister addressing a hurriedly-called presser in Lahore on Monday. She added that that a police constable lost his life in clashes with the PTI protesters, whereas, nearly 70 others were wounded including five cops in critical condition. She alleged that PTI’s “Youth Force” was involved in firing at policemen. There were reports of several other clashes elsewhere in the province, she added. However, the former ruling
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson vehemently denounced the Sharif and Zardari families’ courtiers for spewing venom against PTI’s peaceful protesters and Bushra Bibi, saying that this vicious campaign clearly indicated the growing desperation and frustration among the ruling stooges and their henchmen. The spokesperson stated that PTI founder Imran Khan has become a nightmare for the looters and plunderers that is why they joined hands against him to save their skins and resorted to threatening, intimidating and labelling the unarmed peaceful protestors as terrorists in a desperate bid to deter them.
However, he made it clear that the era of exploitation was finally coming to an end for the puppet regimes and self-serving elites who have been draining the country’s resources for decades, amassing vast fortunes abroad at the expense of the Pakistani people. PTI spokesperson vowed that a revolution was brewing, with the nation now awakened and united in their quest for change, adding that this time, the corrupt elites who had plundered the country’s resources would find no escape, no safe havens to hide their ill-gotten gains. He stated that the people would no longer be silenced, and those responsible for the country’s downfall would be held accountable. STAFF REPORT