Islamabad standoff: Zamrud's intervention termed 'security lapse'

Committee avoids pinning blame on any senior official for the incident.

ISLAMABAD: A three-member committee formed by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan found that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Zamrud Khan's intervention during the Islamabad standoff was a "security lapse", Express News reported on Tuesday.

Gunman Sikandar, accompanied by his wife and two children brought Islamabad to a standstill on August 15 when he engaged with security forces for over six hours while also occasionally firing into the air.

Zamrud lunging at the gunman led to Sikandar and his wife's arrest, although his failed attempt at catching the gunman led to a deadly exchange of fire.

Even though the PPP leader was hailed for his courageous move, the Interior Minister said that the security officials who had allowed him to intervene would be suspended.

"The report said that the presence of media on the site was also a hindrance to the security operation," reported Express News correspondent Sohail Chaudhry.

The committee did not pin blame for the incident on any senior official.