Probe into PTI's 'misuse' of govt resources

Three-member committee to submit its report in 7 days

ISLAMABAD:

The PML-N led federal government has decided to initiate an inquiry into an alleged use of government resources by the PTI's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government during a party protest in Islamabad.

According to a notification issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior on Sunday, a three-member committee will probe into the matter.

Led by Ministry of Interior Additional Secretary Riffat Mukhtar, the committee will include Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director General Munir Masoof Marth and a grade-20 officer of the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

The committee will investigate how many and which government vehicles were used during this protest; how many government officers and employees were involved in the protest, and who gave the order to government institutions to utilize state resources for this rally. It will determine which authorized officials gave the orders to mobilize government resources for the rally.

It will also identify the officers who participated in the use of state resources for the rally, and ascertain the individuals responsible for using government resources to mobilize a rally for a violent political party. The committee will submit its report in seven days.

The PML-N led federal government sealed off the federal capital and Lahore on Saturday as PTI supporters and workers gathered in various spots of the cities in protest against the government's attempts to undermine the judiciary. K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also managed to reach the federal capital despite hurdles and roadblocks. Later, rumors spread like wildfire that Gandapur was detained at the K-P House. The party on Sunday gave an ultimatum to the federal government, asking it to release the CM or face protest campaign. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Gandapur reached the K-P Assembly in Peshawar on Sunday night.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday vowed strict action against Gandapur and PTI protesters who "attacked Islamabad and assaulted policemen" as well as those who ordered "acts of terror".