ISLAMABAD: Defending the arrests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has said they were held for attacking state property, and not for protesting.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, the interior minister said 20 people suspected of involvement in an attack on the Pakistan Television (PTV) headquarters two weeks ago have been identified, of which seven have been arrested.
The interior minister displayed an array of photographs of protesters attacking the police, as well as stealing electricity and water, as a means of providing evidence.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar displaying photographs during his press conference.
Holding out images of torched police vehicles, Nisar said two workers had been arrested on Bhera Interchange for setting police vans on fire.
"Those who attacked police personnel on duty will be brought to justice,” Nisar added.
“If PAT and PTI feel a worker has been wrongfully arrested, they can come talk to us,” the interior minister said, assuring that if someone is mistakenly arrested, they would be released immediately.
The interior minister went on to express t he hope that negotiations between the government and the protesting parties would continue because the political impasse could only be resolved through talks.
“I hope they have postponed talks in a fit of emotions and will reconsider them,” Nisar said, adding, “We have been trying to resolve this issue peacefully for weeks.”
Further, the interior minister revealed that they received an intelligence report last night, which stated that six terrorists had entered the capital with the intention of attackinh the marches.
“There are intelligence reports of the possibility of a terrorist attack on both marches,” he said, adding, “We deployed more forces and the bomb disposal squad there, and have also banned pillion riding for 10 days.”
“No matter how unconstitutional and undemocratic these marches are, the aim of the government has been to safeguard citizens,” the interior minister said.
“Women and children are being made a fodder for their (PTI and PAT leaders) political ambitions,” Nisar alleged, reiterating that the protesters are the responsibility of both the government and the PTI and the PAT.
The interior minister went on to deny PAT chief Tahirul Qadri’s claims that his personal guards were arrested despite having arms licenses.
Nisar, however, said Qadri's personal guards did not have arms licenses nor did any security agency come forward to release them.
COMMENTS (47)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Who and who is arrested for killing 14 people including women in Lahore ???
Go Nisar Go!
Some one should ask him whether it was OK to massacre 14 and injuring 81 at Model Town Lahore. People responsible for that massacre are still enjoying all the perks the country could provide them and the Chief Minister is so shameless that it did not bother him what had happened under his watch and most likely he was the one who ordered the massacre in the first place. Time is not too far off when these thugs will be prosecuted and get the punishment they deserve.
@Fatima: Agree with you 100%
Like it or not, this govt. has no credibility. who will believe them other than paid stooges and blind followers. Even PPP is having hard time defending their actions. i was just listening to reporter describe how thugs in punjab police uniforms hit his car, the reporter apologized for his mistake, because he was scared of beating otherwise he would have gotten. all this to save democracy.
What about arresting the political and military looters who have gulped up billions of dollars of state property ?
Plan E?
@Ahmad: "Good and long-awaited move by the government.."
Dilly dallied too long.
By resorting to such tactics the government simply endorses the perception that it's a drowning man clutching at a straw in a bid to survive.
This man has a big mouth. He and his company is in the last stages of their political career.
@ZAK: I am nation, thousand who are protesting in D Chowk are nation, people who raised slogans of Go Nawaz Go in flood visited areas are nation, than how could you state the whole nation is standing behind the Nawaz Government.
Also, all parliamentarians are saying that elections were rigged, there 100 of evidence on media to tell the illegality of the rigged elections but you are insisting it a legitimate government??
@p rsharma: Election fraud, democide, corruption and slander are considered to be a much bigger crime in those same countries however in Pakistan only speaking for your rights is a crime everything else is pardonable.
GOVERNMENT HAS GONE COMPLETELY BONKERS. NISAR HAS LOST HIS MARBLES, HE'S ARRESTING PPL WITH SLINGSHOTS IN AN EFFORT TO FIND HIS LOST MARBLES. NEXT HE WLD BE CRACKING CRICKETERS IN AN EFFORT TO FIND HIS BALLS. GUTLESS, SHAMELESS, PATHOLOGICAL LIAR & A WEASLE OF A MAN.
I feel sometimes to bite myself over the insanity of Government. Ch Nisar r u in your senses? you killed so many people and arrested none but you have arrested more than 6000 peaceful people over suspicion of attack on PTV channel. Now u r challenging our nerves. Do you think the people of Pakistan are dummies, goofs, stupid.
Nadra can not verified the fingerprints of voters but they identify people who attack PTV with the help of NADRA. Either they are living in fool paradise or they think the people of Pakistan are donkeys. Fed up!
Hmm. Didn't know dj butt also attacked govt buildings.
@csmann if the government can setup *fake flood relief * camps as caught on TV they can also infiltrate the unarmed protestors to build a case for arrest. Don't trust what the government is saying. If the government spoke the truth Pakistan wouldn't be in the position it is in today in the world...deal with reality it is cause of these PPP PML type of rulers that Pakistan's image is destroy.
Live abroad and you will learn most people Muslims and Non-Muslims alike do not like Pakistanis as consider us as extremists and dishonest cause of our deteriorating national image.
These politicians all have their property and wealth abroad and hold dual citizenship..they will simply escape when their turn to loot is over but think about yourself and your family... we are here to stay and even if youdislike PTI should stop defending the corrupt regimes of PPP or PML.
He is a Liar..dont trust anything these parliamentarians say..they are all liars..
Personally speaking as a politically neutral person if the government can setup Fake Flood relief camps their goons (or gullu butts) can easily infiltrate the protestors are cause damage to build a case in the governments favor.
Let's also not forget what kind of individuals the parliament is composed of. I think our government and police is good at only harassing the public instead of serving them.
Using street power( that too proportionately low ) to mount pressure ( with the covert support of establishment) for stepping down of the elected PM on the charges of rigging the poll in some constituencies is globally seen as undemocratic and unconstitutional. This excuse /reason is rubbish and signals that logic reasoning and rationale is deleted in the dictionary of PTI as well as PAT
@Ranjha: "it is abundantly clear now that the Nawaz regime is a Fascist regime. ". --- sir, can you let us know the evidence to prove the NS government as fascist.. Fools believe while wise gives evidence to support what they say. . you can choose the category you want to be placed. .
@Karachi 3: Except unless they are related to any MPA's, MNA's, Generals, Bugtis, Wadeiras, Mullahs, Chaudhries, businessmen or Senior Police officials, otherwise arrest everyone.
Imagine if this same rationale was applied to police and PMLN members. There is footage of police dragging camera men out of the van an beating them senseless. Threre is footage of people throwing stones at the marchers. There is footage of police officers firing on civilians in lahore and no one knows yet who ordered the police to shoot? There is footage of politician taking bribes on camera. No comission reports are released to public unless it serves the Govt. Democracy, Law, and justice is biggest farce used by this govt selectively to promote state terrorism so it can continue filling its coffers through corruption unabated.
Chaudhary Nisar ... out to undermine nawaz's government ... he is the one who let Nawaz down last time in 1999 as well ...
PML-N is again underestimating the power of the people.... These arrests would not make the movement die down but escalate everything furthermore...
When PMLN attacked Supreme Court in the past then why Nawaz and His family+ friends were never arrested till to date. During PPP's regime PMLN did the violent protests as well but why there was no rule of law that time? Today PMLN's MPA son is involved in Rape in Faisalabad but why that news suddenly disappeared from the screen?. When PMLN MPA recently attacked one Police station then why no rule of law was practiced that time?.
Killers of Model Town and Islamabad Massacre not arrested WHY because they hold POWER and serve the government...What a two faced corrupt regime. they will go to any lengths to hold on to power but for how long!!!
Truth about this corrupt double standard govt is open and clear!!
Quick to respond to a few people who entered A building but not so quick to arrest the killers of our brothers and sisters..Nevertheless Allah (swt) is always watching!!! for long can this carry on. No matter how much of the taxpayers money they (sharif clan) stash abroad they will face justice!!
@Salim: Include Ch Atiaza Ahsan in the list of people to be arrested. He was accused by Interior Minister of involvement in corruption on the floor of the Parliament. Also he should also one accused named Nawaz Sharif for accepting bribe from Younus Habib.
This action of arresting protesters in disguise of some made up threats is exposing PML-N govt's political bancruptcy. Time for all civic society to come out and overthrow this illegal, rigged and corrupt govt. Ch. Nisar has no legitimacy to stay as Interior Minister. What is his contribution towards Pakistan's betterment. I would recommend to prosecute him for the killing of 3 protesters during Azadi/inquilab march.
@Ch. Allah Daad, we can understand your desperation. Now PMLn tactics of branding Pakistani citizens as terrorists, traitors and foreign agents will not work. It is time to end family rule, badshabaht and colonial afsarshahi in Pakistan. Soon you will live in true democratic Pakistan.
Well done;any one who breaks the law,should be thrown behind bar
Good and long-awaited move by the government..
Imran and Fake Revolutionary Thug have committed so many serious crimes and acts of treason that its impossible for both of them to escape from strong hands of law.
Yep of course ... you saw DJ breaking fence and entering PTV.
He should first arresting people who looted in billions! He only has the guts to arrest those who do not have enough to eat two times a day; those who looted PTV canteen?
PTI/PAT were denying that people who attacked the television station were not theirs,and it was staged. Why are they crying now ?Liars.
This person is a repulsive liar. The problem is the criminal use of the state apparatus for personal and political gains.
Why was Media coverage and NADRA expertese for Modal Town massacre was not used to arrest murderers which would lead you to the main culprit. Then why NADRA expertese is not being used to satisfy those who accuse PML N of rigging. Then people are being arrested for using water from Parliament House.This itself is an affront to the dignity of People of Pakistan.This water is used for plants and grass but this ugly regime deprives humans to use this water. Ch Nisar can take all insults from Aitezaz to save this corrupt dispensation but how dare common people even ask him about all the nonsense so far. Frankly I feel the man under the wig is getting even with Nawaz for Aitezaz episode. His actions have injected fire in the ranks of people of Pakistan in general and PTI and PAT in particuler.
Nisar, you should focus on getting the real culprits arrested like free roaming corrupt officials, Land Mafias, lawless Chaudries, murders and state enemies and Guloo Butt personalities Not protesters.
Arresting DJ Butt and Azam Swatti for attacking state property? PMLN is the worst thing that happened to Pakistan. They are a bunch of liars and cheats, who first fabricated fake cases against Asif Ali Zardari; it's PTI's turn now.
this should have been done lot earlier
If anyone in Pakistan or abroad had any doubts, those should be removed by now: it is abundantly clear now that the Nawaz regime is a Fascist regime. Amazing how things time travel from the past to present, from West to East!
Protection of state and public property is govt responsibility.
Handful of gathering must not be allowed to held hostage whole nation.
Nawaz Sharif is elected and legitimate PM of Pakistan.
At time of current natural calamity whole nation stand behind PM.
Now govt. in action .
Nawaz time is ticking for you.You are testing patience of people of Pakistan.Soon you will discover the power of people.