Armed man killed after firing on security forces in Rawalpindi's Mall Road, police say

An armed man belonging to a "specific political party" was killed after he allegedly opened fire on security forces, injuring a patrolling officer on Mall Road in Rawalpindi, the city police said on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by the Rawalpindi police spokesperson, the incident took place at around 11:15am when an armed man identified as Muhammad Hussain opened fire at security forces.

“The firing injured one personnel of a security forces’ patrolling team, while security forces took timely action and killed the attacker in retaliatory firing,” the Rawalpindi police spokesperson said.

The statement further said the alleged attacker belonged to a "specific political party", while “the recovered mobile phone and other belongings of the terrorist have revealed further evidence.”

It said that law enforcement agencies remain fully prepared and committed to tackling all forms of terrorism and preventing activities aimed at unrest.

According to Pakistan Television News (PTV), citing security sources, the alleged attacker was a resident of Khyber district and was described as an active member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

“Party flags, weapons, ammunition and important documents were also recovered from his possession, while further investigations into the incident are ongoing,” it said.

According to Radio Pakistan, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticised the PTI, accusing the party of promoting violence and unrest.

Speaking about the incident, Tarar said there was no justification for the PTI worker to open fire on a security official, adding that the violent protests had become a pattern for the party and claimed that PTI workers carried weapons during demonstrations.

The minister further accused PTI of having a history of unrest, saying none of its protests had been peaceful.

Tarar also criticised the timing of PTI protests, alleging that they coincided with major national and international developments that he said were contributing to Pakistan’s progress.

He said the timing of such protests showed that PTI’s “only agenda is to derail the country’s progress and development”.

Responding to remarks by Tarar, PTI Islamabad Region President Aamir Mughal rejected the allegations, saying the party believed in a peaceful and unarmed political struggle.

“If someone has actually attacked the GHQ (General Headquarters), PTI not only condemns it but also demands that it should be investigated through independent sources,” he said.

Mughal called for the facts to be brought before the public and urged that PTI should not be blamed without evidence, saying that the narrative portraying PTI as a terrorist, disruptive or anti-state organisation had already been rejected by the people of Pakistan through the February 8, 2024, general elections.

He added that PTI would continue its political struggle according to the vision of party founder Imran Khan and within the framework of the Constitution and law, despite what he described as political pressure and violence against its workers.

In a statement later, the party said the "regrettable incident" of firing was a matter of "grave concern".

"Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf calls for a thorough, impartial, transparent, and judicial investigation into the incident so that the true facts may be placed before the nation, and so that no innocent individual or political party is held responsible on the basis of mere allegations or political expediency.

"The party unequivocally rejects all forms of violence and does not regard such acts as part of its political struggle. Should any individual be found to have violated the law, appropriate legal action must be taken in accordance with due process. However, the premature attribution of responsibility to a political party or its workers prior to the conclusion of a proper investigation is wholly unacceptable."

It said it was a "matter of particular concern" that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, whose political history the PTI said was marked by past episodes of violence, had now "proceeded, within minutes of the incident, to level political accusations and to establish a predetermined narrative through a hastily convened press conference", adding that "such conduct inevitably raises serious questions".

"The nation is fully entitled to ask why political conclusions were drawn with such haste, before a complete investigation had been conducted, evidence properly collected and the facts established.

"PTI makes it clear that no incident should be exploited for the purposes of allegation-mongering, character assassination or political advantage against opponents. The determination of actual responsibility must rest exclusively upon a transparent and independent investigation, and not upon press conferences or political statements."

It demanded that the full details of the incident, including CCTV footage, all available evidence, and the findings of the investigation, be made public; that an impartial judicial inquiry be instituted without delay; and that, pending the completion of the investigation, no political party or its workers be "unjustly held responsible".