The Ministry of Interior has clarified that there was no direct confrontation between the Pakistan Army and violent protesters from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during recent demonstrations in Islamabad.
In a statement issued by the ministry, it was revealed that on November 21, the Islamabad High Court directed the federal government to maintain law and order at all costs. The court also instructed the Interior Minister to engage with PTI leadership to ensure peaceful protests.
Due to the scheduled visits of the Belarusian President and a high-level Chinese delegation, PTI was repeatedly requested to postpone its protest. However, after PTI insisted on continuing, they were offered an alternate protest site in Sangjani, which was rejected.
Despite multiple concessions, including meetings with party chairman Imran Khan, PTI violated court orders by entering Islamabad’s Red Zone, breaching security protocols.
Violent Protests and Use of Weapons
According to the statement, protesters, during their march from Peshawar to the Red Zone, targeted law enforcement personnel using weapons such as steel slingshots, stun grenades, tear gas shells, and spiked batons. It was also noted that resources from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government were used to facilitate the protests.
The ministry further alleged that 1,500 hardline protesters operated under the command of absconding PTI leader Murad Saeed, who personally led attacks on law enforcement personnel. Provincial machinery was used to remove roadblocks, allowing rioters to advance toward sensitive areas.
During the clashes, three Rangers personnel and one police officer were killed after being run over by vehicles, while 232 law enforcement officers were injured. Protesters also set multiple police vehicles on fire and attacked security forces.
Deployment of Army Under Article 245
The army was deployed under Article 245 of the Constitution, primarily to secure key installations and protect visiting foreign delegations. The statement emphasized that the army was not involved in dispersing protesters and did not engage in any direct confrontation. However, armed guards and militant elements within the protesters fired indiscriminately during the dispersal operation.
The PTI leadership, instead of managing the situation, fled the scene, the ministry claimed.
Propaganda and Damage Control
Following the protests, PTI launched a coordinated social media campaign, attempting to shift blame for alleged casualties onto law enforcement agencies. The Interior Ministry dismissed these claims, stating that major hospitals in Islamabad had refuted reports of any protest-related deaths.
The ministry also condemned the use of doctored and AI-generated videos on social media, noting that some foreign media outlets had inadvertently fallen prey to this misinformation.
Arrests and Seizures
Law enforcement agencies recovered 39 lethal weapons, including 18 automatic firearms, from the protesters. Over three dozen foreign-paid mercenaries were also arrested during the operation. The protests resulted in significant damage, including the destruction of 11 police vehicles and the burning of prison transport vans, with initial estimates of financial losses running into hundreds of millions of rupees.
Economic Impact and Public Response
The ministry highlighted that the violent protests inflicted an estimated daily economic loss of PKR 192 billion, affecting both national stability and international perception. It reaffirmed that the people of Pakistan, including those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have rejected violent politics and stand united for peace and stability.
The statement concluded by warning that those involved in spreading disinformation and inciting violence, both domestically and internationally, would be held accountable under relevant laws.
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