Mir said that the person had been affiliated with Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi and had been the right hand man of Sufi Muhammad. He also said that this figure had recently completed an eight-year jail sentence.

The minister also said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers had attacked police and rangers with stones and petrol bombs, while the officials were merely trying to discharge their duty.

He added that multiple officers of Islamabad Police were injured in the violence which he claimed was inititated by PTI workers. A female officer, SP Ammara Shirazi was also among those injured in the clashed, Mir said.

IG Punjab said that the police had not approached Zaman Park with the intention of conducting an operation which is why a small contingent had been deployed.

He added that the police that clashed with PTI workers was not armed and it was a mark of their bravery that not a single bullet was fired.

The IG also denied reports of clashes between GB and Punjab police.