‘Imran called protesters to D-Chowk on May 25’

Agencies submit replies to SC about violence during PTI’s long march five months ago

ISLAMABAD:

Intelligence agencies of the country have told the Supreme Court that despite the court’s clear direction on May 25, former prime minister Imran Khan remained adamant and gave call to his supporters to reach the D-Chowk of the federal capital.

The apex court on May 26 had directed the top agencies, including the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to ascertain facts regarding violation of May 25 order, wherein PTI was restricted to hold sit-in near the Srinagar Highway.

“Even after the Supreme Court’s clear instructions/order, Imran Khan in his video messages at 1845 & 2154 hours again reiterated his intention/gave call to his supporters to reach D-Chowk, Islamabad,” the report said.

“As per Imran Khan all barriers/obstructions would be removed by the Govt following SCP [Supreme Court of Pakistan] order. The same video massage (1845 hours) was also aired on ARY News at 1938 hours”, added the report
The report was submitted by ISI in response to the question at what time did Imran Khan make the announcement for party workers to reach D-Chowk of the federal capital.

The report stated that on May 25, before the Supreme Court’s order, Imran Khan in his video message at 1512 hours, gave call to his supporters to reach D -Chowk. “He also persuaded public to come on road in their respective cities.”

The report stated that at 1805 hours, the SC announced the order in which the government was instructed to remove all barricades and let the PTI [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf] organise Jalsa between sectors H-9 & G-9.

The report said that PTI leaders Dr Shireen Mazari, Fawad Chaudhry, Sadaqat Abbasi , Saifullah Nyazee, Usman Dar and Dr Shehbaz Gill encouraged the party protesters to reach D-Chowk through their tweets on 25 May 22.

The ISI report stated that this situation “made the Islamabad environment highly tensed undermining stability and security of the capital, hosting diplomatic community and international organisations”.

“Owing to SCP orders, law-enforcement agencies have to secure Jalsa venue/route, protect Red Zone/ D-Chowk/sensitive installations and public/private properties,” the report said.

“Law-enforcement agencies did not take any provocative or disproportionate measures rather only acted on through tear gas firing while protesters tried/attempted to climb, remove and bypass the containers to get into the Red Zone/D-Chowk and burned the trees at Jinnah Avenue, thus utmost restrained was shown.”

Regarding the second question as to how and when the crowd crossed the barricade, the Islamabad Police in its report said that after the SC decision at 06:00 pm on May 25, the police followed the directions of the Supreme Court in letter and spirit.

“For the purpose of protection of Red Zone, where D-Chowk is also located, roads leading to D-Chowk were closed as these were much beyond the designated area for rally/procession of PTI workers and its leadership and in a totally different direction from the H-9/G-9 area whereas, D-Chowk is in front of the parliament building and other iconic buildings of state institutions,” the police said.

“After decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Police, Rangers and FC were directed to show maximum restraint and they stopped any further action so that protestors can reach the G9/H9 area. However, groups of people led by their leaders kept on moving towards D-Chowk on Jinnah Avenue which is a different route than Srinagar Highway. Police and LEAs moved back towards Express Chowk/Red Zone as per direction of the Police Command.”

According to the report, the protestors had come motivated to cross the barriers and confront the police and the other LEAs as per directions of their leadership. It added that at around 06:50 pm, some of them kept advancing in vehicles and motorbikes, using against the LEAs who were on foot.

“The protestors were armed with wooden sticks and they pelted stones on LEAs personnel in order to force their way to the D-Chowk and at other places also,” the report continued.

“Moreover, the protesters were also using vehicles to run over the police officials deployed on duty, who were only having batons to push the protesters. Heavy machinery was also used to remove the containers earlier in the day at various places during the rally,” the report continued.

“The protestors started setting ablaze the nearby trees and bushes. Some of the protestors also mounted on containers placed on main road near China Chowk leading to Express Chowk towards Red Zone.’

At 07:30 pm, the report said, the protestors pushed away the containers placed near China Chowk at Jinnah Avenue and cleared the way for their vehicles and expected larger rally.

“Thereafter, the other vehicles started moving and reached the Express Chowk at around 07:35 pm. Protestors set ablaze trees and bushes at Express Chowk as well. To prevent them from entering the Red Zone, Police, Rangers and FC had to resort to tear gas shelling,” the report added.

At 07:35 pm, some of the protestors managed to reach the Express Chowk by sneaking through side alleys and service roads. Some of these protesters were part of the first group while the others reached Express Chowk via adjacent service roads leading to Embassy Road.

In the meantime, the report said, a group of party workers led by the PTI leaders namely Saifullah Nyazee, Imran Ismail, Raja Khurram Nawaz Shahzad, Ali Nawaz Awan, Muhammad Radique Awan, Mian Amjid Vice Chairman UC F-8, Malik Aamir Dogar, Zartaj Gul, Shireen Mazari congregated near Islamabad Stock Exchange building at Jinnah Avenue.

The police said that approximately 2,000 protestors led by Imran Ismail, Saifullah Nyazee, Zartaj Gul and others made several attempts to cross the first layer of containers at the edge of Red Zone and intrude into the Red Zone but they were repelled by the LEAs through use of tear gas shelling.

The report said that amidst confrontation with LEAS, protestors managed to cross the first layer of containers at around 09:35 pm by climbing nearby grill, installed at the Express Chowk on the road leading to D-Chowk/Red Zone and entered Red Zone.

“Police/LEAs managed to push them out of the Red Zone by using tear gas shells. However, the upper stack of outer cordon containers was forcibly removed by the protesters at 11:40 pm on 25 May.”

The remaining containers (lower stack) of the outer cordon were removed by protesters at 03:05 am the next morning on 26th May, the report added. On 26 May, at 08:05 am PTI workers whose total number at the Express Chowk at that time was 1,000-1,500 approximately, pushed down the upper stack of second layer of containers after Express Chowk and inside Red Zone.

“Rangers and Police personnel were present at the venue but applied full restraint and did not resort to coercive action to stop their entry. Rangers’ personnel, who formed the first physical cordon immediately after the second layer of containers, employed tactical retreat towards D-Chowk and all Police/Rangers vehicles were withdrawn,” the report continued.

“Thereafter, a layered formation was constituted by Rangers and Police at D-Chowk to stop further movement of the protestors towards the Parliament House and other sensitive buildings. The protestors also stopped from marching farther whereas Police or Rangers did not resort to tear gas shelling or any other coercive measure, said the police report.

Regarding the third question, whether the crowd entering red zone was organised or did they move randomly, the ISI report revealed that the bulk of the crowd came from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), including the top leadership gathered near the intersection of Jinnah Avenue.

“Other procession/crowd entered in Red Zone through China Chowk, Express Chowk and Geo Chowk. Dr Shireen Mazari was at D-Chowk on 25 May at 2147 hours. PTI protestors were also led/supervised by senior PTI leadership, including Pervaiz Khattak, Azam Swati, Ghulam Sarwar, Imran Ismail, Murad Saeed, Atif Khan, Raja Basharat, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Malik Aamir Doger, Raja Khurram Nawaz, Munawara Baloch, Shireen Mazari, Kanwal Shozab, Maleeka Bukhari, Zartaj Gul, Alia Hamza Malik.”

The report of the Islamabad police also stated that the crowd was organised to enter Red Zone under the PTI leadership.

About the question, whether there was act of provocation or breach of assurance by the government, the ISI report stated that on 30th May, at 2011 hours during a talk “Imran Khan acknowledged to his believe for hundred per cent occurrence of firing incident as he confessed to have seen weapons (pistols) with PTI protestors” during the long March.

“However, in order to avoid any untoward incident, instructions/orders were given by Prime Minister Office/Govt, to law-enforcement agencies not to carry any live ammunition/bullets,” said the report.

“Despite the fact certain incidents of aerial firing were carried out by PTI protestors, near Attock bridge and other places during long march. “As such no act of provocation or breach of assurance by the government/law-enforcement agencies rather it was announced time and again through social and electronic media to stay away from the D-Chowk,” it added.

“ICT police in retaliation to protestors’ provocation/act of setting plants on fire at Jinnah Avenue, resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the charged crowd. Protestors, present at Express Chowk attempted 3-4 efforts to climb, remove and bypass the containers to get into D-Chowk which were retaliated by Police.”