President, PM decry killing of security personnel in Islamabad
1. "Anarchist group" deliberately targeting LEAs deployed to maintain peace, says PM Shehbaz
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the killing of Rangers and police officials by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists on the Srinagar Highway in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Expressing profound grief over the martyrdom of security personnel, they offered prayers for the souls of the departed and strength for their bereaved families.
In his statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, while ensuring the best possible medical care for the injured.
"Attacking police and Rangers under the guise of so-called peaceful protests is deplorable," he stated, accusing the PTI of deliberately targeting law enforcement officers tasked with maintaining peace. He emphasized that these violent acts had devastated the families of the fallen personnel.
"This anarchist group seeks bloodshed, not revolution. Their actions are not peaceful protests but extremist violence," the prime minister asserted. "Pakistan cannot afford such chaos and bloodshed. Using violence for political gains is unacceptable and highly condemnable."
Prime Minister Shehbaz paid tribute to the sacrifices of the martyred security personnel, highlighting their service to the nation.
Military Deployment in Islamabad
In response to escalating violence, the federal government deployed the army in the capital. The Interior Ministry invoked Article 245, authorizing military assistance to restore order and granting powers to impose curfews if needed.
Sources report that security forces have been authorized to use deadly force against those causing violence.
The deployment followed a tragic incident on Srinagar Highway, where PTI activists allegedly drove a vehicle into Rangers personnel, resulting in the deaths of four Rangers and injuries to five others, along with two police officers.
So far, attacks on law enforcement have claimed the lives of four Rangers and two police officers. Over 100 police personnel have been injured, many critically, underscoring the severity of the ongoing violence.
