Audio leaks reveal PTI leadership's involvement in attack on army installations
A day after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, audio leaks surfaced on social media on Wednesday, indicating that the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was allegedly involved in the attack on the residence of Lahore Corps Commander, Express News reported.
The purported audio clips reveal that PTI leaders had urged party workers to gather at the Jinnah House and they "rejoiced" about the damage caused during telephone calls.
"We have destroyed the entire Corp Commander House and ended their story," Ali Chaudhry could be allegedly heard telling Ejaz Chaudhry in one of the audio recordings.
The alleged audio of senior PTI leader and provincial president Dr Yasmin Rashid's conversation with a party leader and a video of her instructing the workers to go to the Corps Commander House have also come to light.
Yasmin Rashid arrived at a demonstration in Lahore yesterday where a female activist addressed her and said, "Dr Sahiba!" No one wants to sit here and everyone wants to go to the Corps Commander's House.
On this, Dr Yasmin Rashid said, "Okay, then everyone will gather together and reach the Corps Commander's House." The video also showed PTI activist Ibad Farooq threatening the Punjab candidates from the sit-in site with dire consequences if they did not reach the site immediately.
Apart from this, he also released an audio message in which he said, "Send my voice to all the groups, I have reached the Corps Commander House with Dr Yasmin Rashid Sahiba and Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mehmoodul Rashid are also present with us… today Imran Khan's exam is over and ours has started.”
In his alleged audio, Ibad also said that "Dr Yasmin Rashid sahiba has given us clear instructions that they will set fire to the corps commander's house and Ejaz Chaudhry has also promised that we will not stop, all PTI tigers reach the Corps Commander's house immediately.”
The alleged audio of the conversation between Dr Yasmin Rashid and PTI leader Ijaz Minhas after the attack on the Corps Commander House has also surfaced. In which she said that “Now we will go back to Gujjar Chowk, we should go back now to sit at Liberty [Chowk] or stay here (Corps Commander) House”.
On this, Ejaz Minhas said to Yasmin Rashid that "Ask from them". On which the female leader of PTI inquired, "Who should I ask to?"
Then Ijaz Minhas said, “If you have to sit and show it as a symbol, it was better where you were sitting, now if you have gotten up, then Liberty is the best place where there is peace and people come from all around. Yes, there we will make all the seating arrangements... ay the carpets.”
He said, "What you had to do is done, now go back, gather people at night and give a call through the media for a peaceful sit-in at Liberty." On this, Dr Yasmin Rashid ended the conversation by saying OK.
In an appalling incident of vandalism never witnessed before in the country’s political history, the historic corps commander’s house in Lahore which also served as residence of the founding father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was attacked by PTI supporters on Tuesday hours after Imran Khan’s arrest by the Rangers personnel in Islamabad.
Read more: Govt calls in army to control law and order situation in Punjab, K-P
Later, all roads leading to the Corps Commander House, Assembly and sensitive areas were closed.
Due to the unprecedented situation, the interim provincial governments requisitioned army troops to maintain law and order in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
At least five protesters have been reported dead as the protests turned violent, with several others injured. At least three policemen were also seriously injured in clashes with PTI supporters in Peshawar.
Officials at Edhi Foundation reported two deaths in Lahore while another three were reported in Peshawar.
Attack on Radio Pakistan
According to Director General Radio Pakistan, Tahir Hassan, hundreds of 'miscreants' suddenly stormed the national broadcaster's building in Peshawar.
The enraged crowd wreaked havoc in the newsroom and various sections of the building.
He added that 'miscreants' had attacked Radio Pakistan yesterday as well.
In today's attack, the protesters vandalised the building, tortured the staff including women and engaged in arson, the DG said. They set fire to Chagai Yadgar and Radio Auditorium.
Hassan also said that records and other materials were destroyed by arson in various sections of the Radio Pakistan building.
"Vehicles parked in the building of Radio Pakistan were also set on fire," he said.