ISLAMABAD: A couple of days after violent clashes with former prime minister Imran Khan’s supporters, caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi said on Monday that he had allowed the provincial police to do “whatever it takes” to establish the writ of the state from now on.
Last week, Punjab police fought pitched battles with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters throughout the night, firing fusillades of teargas and dodging rocks thrown by angry crowds. The clashes erupted after police showed up at Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore to arrest him on court orders in a case relating to the sale of state gifts when Khan was the prime minister.
Punjab’s police chief claims Khan supporters pelted stones and threw petrol bombs at police during the clashes. Naqvi has alleged that militants from Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province attacked police with Khan’s supporters. Khan denies the allegations and insists the police action is part of a larger plot to arrest him and delay general elections.
Naqvi told reporters during a news conference on Monday that Khan supporters had vandalized police vehicles, beaten up police officers, and snatched their weapons. The chief minister said until now, he had told police to practice restraint and avoid bloodshed.
“After this morning, we have told police officers and I have spoken to them, they will now do whatever it takes,” Naqvi said. “The writ of the government will be established. If anyone puts up a challenge and lays a hand on police then those hands will be broken,” he added.
The caretaker chief minister reiterated allegations that militants were part of the protesters who had attacked police.
“You all know there are many people there who have been involved in terrorism, their pictures have also been released,” Naqvi said, adding that supporters of political parties do not indulge in “such activities.”
Naqvi said the government has decided to form a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the “terrorist activity” that had taken place over the past week.
“The team will investigate all of these things; it will include all those people who are usually part of such JITs and [will also probe] people who came from outside of Punjab. We will release a notification about this later in the evening today,” he added.
Meanwhile, Khan told his supporters via a video message on Sunday that he would take action against all Punjab police officers who had allegedly tortured his supporters and been part of a raid at his house. He urged Pakistan’s judiciary to “save the country” before it descends into further chaos.
