Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that around 80 to 85 police officers sustained injuries amid the clashes between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters and Islamabad police on Friday. He reported that at least 120 Afghan nationals have been arrested over the past 48 hours, with 41 apprehended during the recent protests.
“Forty-one Afghan nationals were caught in yesterday’s clashes, and a total of 120 have been arrested in the last two days, which is alarming,” Naqvi told reporters in Islamabad. He emphasized that while domestic protests are normal, the involvement of foreign nationals raises significant concerns.
Naqvi mentioned that police were fired upon near Pathargarh during the passage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Gandapur’s convoy. He raised questions about how protesters obtained tear gas and noted that many police officers required medical treatment due to their injuries.
The minister also claimed there was evidence of communication among groups encouraging individuals from Bannu and tribal areas to bring firearms to the protests.
Reiterating his commitment to maintaining order, Naqvi said he was in touch with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and assured that the government would not allow any disruptions to the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Islamabad. He held PTI leadership accountable for the unrest, asserting that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister was “directly responsible for leading the protests.”
