'Gandapur’s convoy includes only PTI workers, no Afghans': Barrister Saif
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Information Adviser, Barrister Saif, has rejected claims that Afghan nationals were part of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Amin Gandapur’s convoy, calling it 'false propaganda.'
He confirmed that only PTI workers were present in the convoy, Express News reported.
Responding to statements made by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Barrister Saif accused him of spreading misinformation.
"Mohsin Naqvi’s press conference is a bundle of lies," Saif said, refuting allegations of firing by Gandapur’s convoy and dismissing them as baseless.
Saif further emphasised that Ali Amin Gandapur's primary aim is the release of Imran Khan and the establishment of the rule of law in the country.
"The current illegitimate government has crossed red lines, not Ali Amin," he added, accusing Naqvi of making desperate and baseless claims.
The adviser also responded to accusations that PTI supporters were involved in recent unrest. "Yesterday, weapons were handed to patwaris, and today false claims of Afghan participation in the protest are being made," Saif claimed, reiterating that the convoy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa only included PTI workers.
Saif claimed that no tear gas was used by PTI members during the protests, and he accused the federal government of attempting to shift blame onto others. "If Ali Amin had weapons, he wouldn’t have spent the night on the motorway," he said, reaffirming that PTI's rally was peaceful and its objectives were clear.
Earlier on Friday night, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, accompanied by the Inspector General of Islamabad, made a notable visit to D-Chowk to evaluate the growing security concerns in the capital.
During the visit, Naqvi voiced serious concerns about the unrest and the unsettling involvement of Afghan nationals among the demonstrators.
He highlighted that during the past two days, law enforcement agencies had arrested 120 Afghan citizens and raised questions about their participation in what was supposed to be a local political protest.
“If these protesters are supposed to be our own people, why are Afghans among them?” he asked.
Naqvi also addressed the violent incidents that took place during the protest, mentioning that demonstrators had allegedly fired on police officers.
“This was far from a regular protest; police were shot at,” Naqvi confirmed, adding that 85 officers had been injured in the clashes. He condemned the attacks and questioned the true intent behind the protests.
Previously, it was reported that Islamabad Police have arrested 412 individuals, including 60 Afghan nationals, ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned protest at D-Chowk on Friday. The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on PTI workers preparing for the demonstration.
According to Express News, the detainees were found in possession of spiked batons, slingshots, and marbles.
The crackdown comes as PTI, under the direction of its founder Imran Khan, called for a protest at D-Chowk on October 4. In response, the authorities implemented strict security measures to prevent demonstrators from reaching the protest site.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had warned PTI leaders to reconsider the protest, citing the presence of the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Islamabad. "If anyone attempts to storm D-Chowk, they will be dealt with firmly," the minister said, further cautioning that no leniency would be shown to those who breach security.
Saif invites Indian FM to join protests
Barrister Saif, speaking to a local news channel on Friday, had said that the PTI planned to invite Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to address their protest at D-Chowk during his visit for the SCO summit.
Saif emphasised PTI's constitutional right to protest and highlighted the move as a way to showcase Pakistan’s democratic freedoms, countering the federal government's portrayal of restricted protests in the country.