Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday. PHOTO: PID
Gunman Sikandar Hayat accompanied by his wife and children brought Islamabad to a standstill on Thursday by waving two sub-machine guns and occasionally firing into the air.
The standoff that lasted for five hours eventually ended after Sikandar and his wife were shot and arrested when the PPP member lunged at him.
However, while addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Nisar hailed Zamarud's bravery but noted that the situation could have gone either way.
"The policemen shot Sikandar in the chest and on his leg after Zamarud stepped in. The third bullet hit his wife," Nisar said, "but we had wanted to avoid all casualties."
"We didn't want any firing," he added, claiming that Sikandar Hayat was two kilometres away from the Red Zone.
The interior minister said that when he was told of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Nabeel Gabol's arrival at the site, he urged that he be kept away, saying that "security measures should be left to the security agencies."
Talking about the demands made by Sikandar, he said that his first demand was for the release of his son, who is imprisoned in Dubai.
"Secondly, he said that he wanted employment here at any embassy," he stated, adding that the armed man was not connected to any terrorist organisation but was not mentally sound.
Response of the security forces
Nisar said that they could have easily fired at Sikandar but "there was no guarantee that he wouldn't have fired back."
He also said that there was no guarantee that the firing would have incapacitated him.
The interior minister said that openly flaunting weapons is completely banned in the country, asserting that "even if we get a call about firing, we take action."
'Media should also take responsibility'
Condemning how the media covered the operation live, the interior minister said that restrictions should be placed on the media so this doesn't happen in the future.
"We had made a plan to switch all the street lights off and then carry out an operation in the dark but Zamarud had already stepped in," he said, claiming that they just wanted "15 minutes" from the media.
"I could have asked media to back off completely but this would have caused another crisis," the interior minister said, adding that the incident should serve as a lesson for times to come.
The interior minister further said that he is planning to talk to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) about it.
COMMENTS (39)
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Once again the media went gaga over this incident. Remember the Boja crash and the insanity by the media....they are like irritating relatives and never know when to back off. I agree with Talat Hussain that giving undue exposure to the loony gunman by a seasoned journalist was not called for....neither was the ticker congratulating Zamurad Khan on his bravery. Hats off to the SSP Operations for using delaying tactics in order to wear down the gun man and Hamid Mir's remark on his posture was uncalled for.....again a seasoned journalist passing an uncalled for remark. The public will not learn a lesson and neither will the media. The electronic media needs to grow up and educate the public.
@A2Z: But if the minister orders the police NOT to act, then what?? And in this situation Mr Nisar told the police not to act!
@doom: mr doom, please keep dreaming!
well i salute to Zamarud khan on such a brave act but this is total responsibility of our security agencies,which were just standing behind and watching live drama..he proved of being a true Pakistani.well done man!
@Mirza: No, the ends don't justify the means!!! How juvenile you sound!
Your comment only makes sense if you want to see this place 100 percent a banana republic. .
I am very thankful to media for their coverage, this showed us that our leadership is incompetent. In a situation like this, it is up to police to handle this. But lack of appointments by merit, we have no competent leadership in police departement. And when a interior minister want to dictate operation. So will this kind of operation get amateur like handling like yesterday.
I wonder these officers would have been suspended if Zamurd khan belonged to PMLN instead of PPP
Good decision to suspend these careless and un-professional police officers. Also Mr. Zamarud should be charged for interfering police work and endangering lives of others. Above all, Mr. Nisar should resign too because he also interfered in police work. His order to arrest this guy alive at any cost and not allowing police to act according to situation prolonged drama un-necessary and made us laughing stock in entire world.
I have so many sayings that come to my mind. No good deed goes unpunished All is well that ends well End justifies the means It all ended well, so what is the problem? Thank God everybody is not surrendering to the terrorists.
succesor of rehaman malik is more influence of outgoing
if media had not been there, we would have recieved following news: 'a robber and his accomplice wife killed during a robbery bid foiled by brave cops'. Their kids would have been silently sent to 'sweet home'.
I agree with Nisar that it was stupidity to let a silly maverick take charge of all security and take stupid action. See how he is running away like a frightened rat after the gun man spared his life.
If Zammmarrud is hailed a hero then next time there will be dozens of unconcerned people jumping in and doing assinine things to become a hero.
However live media coverage is necessary so that people cannot be fooled by lies and claims later on.
26/11 Mumbai attacks and Indian Parliament attacks were covered live on Indian televisions. When televisions covers an incident we have proof we can find out the criminals and punish them. Ajmal Kasab was shown on Indian television, Obama saw the operation against Osama Bin Laden.
Well In Pakistan sometimes bravery is in Synonymous with Stupidity so Zamrud will become a hero. Secondly since Morning many of my Pukhtun and Baloch friends are finding this event as another event to bash Punjabis. So for all of my friends out there a small info that Zamrud Khan full name is Chaudary Zamrud Khan and it is a trend in Potohar to write Khan with their names since the time of Ghakkars and that is why Our Interior Minister writes Khan with his name as well. Similarly Amir Khan and many other write Khan with their name but it does not make them a Pakhtun and it is never intended to do so as well. Just like my Grandfather's name is Sarbuland Khan but he is not a Khan but a Potohari Punjabi. So kindly stop this stupid discussion of Bravee Pukhtun and Weak Punjabis thing when Zamrud is from Punjab as well with no connection to KPK whatsoever.
The police fired at the culprit once he had his hands up. Once he started running he got shot in his legs. Once he fell on his face and lost his weapons, he got shot in the stomach. Once that "policeman" in uniform rushed in and gathered both weapon, while his colleagues in plain clothes had subdued the culprit, he started hitting at the man.
Despite differences, Reham Malik was one of the better (and proactive) interior ministers after Gen. Babar. Ch. Nisar is the worst in the history of pakistan. Sorry to say but PMLN's choice of interior ministers has been very pathetic.
i agree with ch nisar no body should be allowed to enter or leave the police cordon in such security situation. letting zumurd khan enter the cordon was voilation standard operating procedures
It is the media that presents live to the people, your inadequacies, inaptitude, incompetence, half truths and corrruption. A free media cannot remain free if it is made to abide by your preferrence. Nine eleven was covered live, Iraq war was covered live, scenes of battles and bombs in Afghanistan were covered live. Bombay terror attack was covered live. An honest and above board government has nothing to fear from media.
No doubt Mr. Zamarud Khan showed great courage and tried to grab the heavily armed Skindar, without fearing the loss of his life. We should respect and salute his bravely. But there is a very thin line between being brave and being stupid.God forbid, if the fires triggered by armed man hit Zamarud Khan, who slipped and lying on the road, what the outcome of this episode would be? Had he not attempted to tackle Skindar, the end of drama would have been quite different and smooth. As an administrative principle, hanging on the situation and keeping the criminals in continuous negotiation, put more stress on their nerves and then a sudden unexpected attack always yields good results. There are hundreds of cases where police use delaying tactics to gain advantage of darkness and exhaustion of culprits.Long Live Mr. Zamarud Khan, we are proud of you, but be careful, your life is very precious for you and the whole nation.Your philanthropic services are highly commendable.
@Waqas: He was on the Motorway when the event was taking place.
the would have, could have & should have!
He should stop finding scapegoat and instead be brave and show courage by taking responsibility. The command was with him, is he so clueless that it took hours to take control? Not only Zamurud action but even any delay or inaction could also have led situation to any direction as Sikandar was getting frustrated. By the way, is it same pmln that was shouting foul on media restraint during lal masjid operation ?
@Waqas: PPP must get him elected Mr. Zumarad Khan as MPA in Sind and appoint him Sind's home minister.
Media just want to make money, today whole day they repeated the firing. They don't care about our childerns who watch tv.
@Ali Tipu: It is people like you, who have short lived memories and gauge things on the surface only. Rehman Malik knew this very well and by doing nothing other than appearing on the crime scene, succeeded to become your hero. No doubt, fans like you deserve heroes like Rehman Malik.
Good decision!
What if Zamurad would have ended up loosing his life or others? Why
I was just shocked how the media was covering that, I mean there are lot of examples in the western countries also but did you ever saw this type of media stupidity. All the channels were just continuously shouting and shouting.
And by the way that was not a act of bravery Mr Minister you put lot of people life on risk. I appreciate the strategy of the police and rangers there were children with them also.
And uufff our people they were just watching like it's a circus lolz
Mr Nisar could you please do some favor and start scrutinizing the case against Sikandar to find the ground realities, instead of Zamrud who was at least not coward enough to be a audience like all other forces.
His and rana sanaullah remaeks smell of jealousy
Shame on u Nisar. Where were u?? Sleeping in Lahore??
usually PMLN usurps credit of others but this time it is opposite so how can they digest it.
I have already started missing Rehman Malik. At least he would have been there at the spot instead of hiding somewhere like Ch.Nisar.
Media must bring itself under some sort of discipline. Unfortunately our media acts quite immaturely compared to their counterparts in the neighboring countries under such situations. Needless to say that freedom of speech is a grossly misunderstood paradigm in Pakistan and this rhetoric must change for the better.
Terror friendly decision of interior minister. Not good for public and police moral. With such decisions his anti-terror policy is bound to fail from day one.
@Waqas: It is not job of interior minister to participate in such situations. Police is there to conduct and execute such operations. Media should be banned from covering such operations live.
No wonder under this sort of vision and strategy, the whole country is under the siege of the terrorists. God Bless us!
Agree with everything. Zamrud had no business being there; the live audience had no business being there; the whole place should have been emptied out and cordoned off (including to the media); and the authorities should have waited patiently for an opportunity to act which is what they seemed to be doing until Zamrud decided to be a hero.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar should went there by him self, but due to lack of courage he didn't. Now why to blame Police.
i agree with ministers assertion that media should not be allowed to cover such events.but he cannot justify the response of security forces.