May 9 protests caused Rs1b loss: commissioner
Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan throw stones after police fire tear gas to disperse them in Lahore on May 9, 2023.—File photo
The violent protesters on May 9 damaged three metro stations while setting on fire the Sixth Road Metro Station, causing a loss of Rs1 billion to the national exchequer, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha said on Wednesday.
“In total, Rs1 billion were lost in the violent protests,” he said and added that the Punjab government released Rs100 million for the restoration of the Sixth Road Metro Station.
“The repair work of the affected metro station has started and it will be restored soon,” he said, adding about 10,000 people were being affected every day due to the burning down of the public property.
Read May 9 rioters ‘must not go unpunished’
The commissioner made these remarks while talking to the media during his visit to the Sixth Road Metro Station.
Chattha further said the violent protesters had damaged many government properties.
“Courts will impose fines on those who caused all this disaster,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2023.