25 charged for violence during last week’s protests

Report has been filed against protesters, data collected on damage incurred

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has shared details of riots besides damages incurred during protest demonstrations last week. The government informed that a total of 25 people were arrested for having been involved in violence and damaging properties during protest demonstrations last week.

A report into the cases filed against different people besides data collected on damages was shared with the interior ministry after the federal interior minister asked provinces to share all the details with the center.

According to details, the federal government issued a letter titled ‘Action against culprits of violence and damage to public and private property during current protests’ regarding the riots that took place last week. The letter sought data of those involved, as well as, information about the damages incurred.

The ministry addressed all the chief secretaries, inspector general police of all provinces, inspector general National Highway and Motorways Police (NHMP), National Databases and Registration Authority, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, ministry of information and telecommunication besides Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) director general.

The letter stated that federal agencies including FIA, NHMP as well as other provincial departments and their relevant agencies were requested to identify the people responsible. The information will be acquired in coordination with NADRA and PTA to register cases and ultimately arrest those responsible for inciting violence.

Moreover, the general public should be advised to register complaints against such people, share videos in order to help the government identify such elements.

An initial report regarding total number of FIRs and arrests along with estimated cost of damaged properties may be provided to the ministry of interior by 5pm on Monday November 5, 2018 positively, the letter read, a copy available with The Express Tribune.

Since the directions were issued from the interior ministry, the same was communicated by the K-P home ministry to the provincial police department.

According to senior home ministry officials a total of 66 incidents were reported across the province with 18 people arrested after they set fire to a room at Rashakai motorway interchange in Nowshera.

Officials also informed that some seven people were arrested in Kohat adding that the police was still trying to identify the culprits since videos of different incidents were obtained from different sources and police teams were carrying out their job.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2018.