A lawmaker from the PTI on Monday submitted a list of queries to a parliamentary panel, questioning who issued the instruction to allegedly open fire on PTI protesters in Islamabad during their recent march.
On November 26, authorities dispersed a PTI's protest organized with the avowed aim to force the PML-N led federal government into releasing party founder Imran Khan and rolling back a constitutional amendment by launching a heavy-handed crackdown a day after the protesters entered Islamabad.
The PTI had earlier claimed that hundreds of its workers had died as a result of firing by ranger's personnel. However, the party had later revised the figure of such alleged victims to 12. The government had vehemently denied all such claims about killing.
PTI's Zartaj Gul on Monday submitted a list of questions to the chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, asking as to who gave the alleged order to open fire at PTI protesters.
It should be explained, she said, as to how many people were martyred, injured, and detained. Why are journalists being arrested, and why are only Pashtuns being detained in Islamabad.
Responding to these questions, committee member Tariq Fazal Chaudhry of the PML-N said it is mere propaganda that only Pashtuns are being targeted in Islamabad.
Committee Chairman Raja Khurram Nawaz, who also belongs to the ruling party, claimed even "their own people" have been arrested, who are neither Pashtuns nor from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The PTI on Sunday also decided to file an FIR against the federal government for its allegedly illegal action against the party protestors.
The standing committee held a meeting on Monday at the Ministry of Interior building. The meeting, chaired by Raja Khurram Nawaz, began with members expressing strong dissatisfaction over the absence of the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Nawaz criticized the FIA, stating that its directors blackmail people and operate without accountability from any minister or secretary.
Committee member Chaudhry Nasir alleged that FIA sub-inspectors detain individuals and demand bribes starting from Rs1.5 million. He questioned the FIA's role beyond extortion and blackmail.
Hanif Abbasi stated that complaints of citizens being blackmailed had been brought to the FIA DG's attention, but no action was taken. Nabeel Gabol of the PPP said if this behavior persisted, there was no point in involving the FIA in committee proceedings.
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