President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the tragic incident on Srinagar Highway, where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers allegedly targeted Rangers and police personnel, leading to fatalities.
In their statements, both leaders expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Rangers personnel and prayed for the departed souls while extending condolences to the bereaved families. They also wished a swift recovery for the injured security personnel.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attack. He emphasized the importance of providing the best medical care to the injured and criticized the violence carried out under the guise of peaceful protest.
“The so-called peaceful protests have turned into an orchestrated attack on law enforcement agencies, disrupting peace and devastating the lives of the families of the martyred personnel,” the prime minister said. He added that the perpetrators, described as an “anarchist group,” aimed to incite chaos and bloodshed rather than promote any legitimate cause.
Shehbaz reiterated that Pakistan could not tolerate such extremism and affirmed the nation’s solidarity with the martyred Rangers and police personnel. “This is not a revolution; it is sheer violence. The entire nation stands in tribute to our fallen heroes,” he remarked.
In response to the escalating unrest during the PTI protests, the federal government invoked Article 245 of the Constitution, authorizing the deployment of the Pakistan Army in Islamabad to restore order. The Interior Ministry’s notification grants the military authority to impose curfews and take stringent measures, including shooting miscreants and troublemakers on sight, to control the situation.
The move follows reports of a vehicle allegedly driven by PTI protesters into Rangers personnel on Srinagar Highway, resulting in the deaths of four Rangers and two police officers, with five additional Rangers and over 100 police personnel injured. Many of the injured are in critical condition, highlighting the severity of the ongoing violence.
