K-P calls in army to quell violence

Violent protests continue province-wide on 2nd consecutive day

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) caretaker provincial cabinet on Wednesday approved the deployment of army taking into account the violent protests in the province following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan.

PTI supporters continued their violent protests across the province as small groups armed with sticks and stones attacked government buildings, set them ablaze and clashed with police.

An emergency meeting of the caretaker cabinet was held under the chair of Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan which reviewed in depth the current law and order situation in the province and after thorough discussions approved the deployment of army to deal with the increasing violent protests.

Briefing the journalists about the meeting, Caretaker Minister of Information Barrister Feroz Jamal Kaka Khel said that the cabinet has requested the federal government to deploy army under article 245.

He said that violent protests occurred in various districts of the province in which government buildings were attacked and set on fire which is not acceptable at any cost.

“Let me tell you that peaceful protest is the right of any citizen of the country but violence will not be tolerated and such elements will be dealt with iron hand,” he said, adding that the cabinet members condemned the violence in the meeting and decided that deployment of army will bring the situation under control.

“The cabinet members appreciated the efforts of the police which tried its level best to control the situation,” he observed, adding that the courts ordered the arrest of Imran Khan and his party should fight this battle in the courtrooms instead of doing violence on roads.

It may be mentioned here that hundreds of angry and violent protesters on Wednesday set the building of Radio Pakistan Peshawar and Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) on fire.

Station Director Radio Pakistan Peshawar, Tahir Hassan and employees said, hundreds of PTI workers entered the premises of the building after bringing down the main gate and set vehicles as well as the building on fire for the second time.

The PTI workers entered various sections of the Radio Pakistan and looted valuable equipment before setting the rooms on fire.

Station Director Tahir Hassan said that PTI workers had also torched the replica of Chaghi Mountain in the same building on Tuesday, adding that some of the violent protesters also resorted to massive aerial firing on the main road outside the building.

Protesters also attacked APP office and after stealing valuables set it on fire.

Meanwhile another group of angry mob turned towards the vehicles’ parked under the shed and destroyed around seven to eight vehicles, including those of APP and PBC staff.

The fire lit by the PTI workers gradually engulfed the whole building including the APP office and destroyed everything in its path.

Police said that small groups of 20 to 30 PTI workers played hide and seek with police throughout the day and these youngsters also did most of the damage.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2023.