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04 Rajab 1446  

Murad Saeed hiding at Chief Minister’s House in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claims information minister

As many as 45 firearms were recovered from the demonstrators, says Attaullah Tarar
Ata Tarar claim about Murad Saeed’s hiding place - Breaking - Aaj News

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Murad Saeed is hiding at the Chief Minister’s House in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has claimed.

“Murad Saeed was not only present at the protest but also had trained groups with him who were instructed to drop bodies during the demonstration,” he told a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday.

Thousands of PTI supporters marched on November 24 from different cities to Islamabad for Khan’s “final call” to “ensure the release of party members and restoration of democracy.” But the protest was called off on the third day.

They managed to reach the federal capital despite roadblocks and disruptions to the internet and cellular services.

At least six people, including a police officer and three Rangers officials, lost their lives during three days of protests, as reported by officials and hospital sources.

It was the third time that time that the party called off its protest after reaching its desired destination. According to Khan’s party, 12 of their supporters were killed in firing on the third day of the protest.

The information minister claimed Saeed has a history of such actions and had planned the protest. The insistence on entering the Red Zone was an attempt to undermine the authority of the state, he added.

“As many as 45 firearms were recovered from the demonstrators,” he said, “the state never attacks its own citizens.” According to Tarar, the protests began with violence, as vehicles were deliberately driven toward Rangers personnel with the intent to harm.

Tarar mentioned the Islamabad High Court directive that banned protests or rallies over the weekend due to the visit of the Belarusian president. He claimed that it was Saeed who insisted on going to Islamabad’s D-Chowk despite the government’s offer to protest at a designated site.

The information minister accused him of bringing along tools for violence, alleging that the PTI leader was involved in acts of murder and other violent incidents.

He further claimed that law enforcement agencies were “not permitted to use live ammunition,” yet the rioters had access to live ammunition and weapons.

Tarar reiterated his claims that the PTI has engaged in propaganda through foreign media, spreading fake videos and images, even linking pictures from Gaza and Palestine to the D-Chowk protest. He criticised PTI for connecting the Kurram incident victims to the D-Chowk demonstration, demanding, “Can they provide even one picture showing that shooting occurred?”

He stated that both PIMS and Polyclinic hospitals clarified that no deaths were caused by gunfire, asserting that the “rioters fired indiscriminately.”

The minister also pointed out the terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that chaos reigns in Kurram while the PTI’s focus remained on politics and unrest.

He alleged that the PTI protests have resulted in daily losses of Rs192 billion. Tarar further accused the PTI of using propaganda involving corpses to cover their embarrassment, claiming that the former ruling party has politically failed and that their “plan to drop bodies has also been thwarted.”

In previous protests, he alleged there were trained criminals and Afghan nationals present, all proficient with weapons. “This time, the protest was sensationalised under the guise of a ‘final call’.”

Tarar revealed that intelligence reports indicated an attempt to incite violence and create casualties during the march.

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The information minister added that a 16-year-old boy arrested from atop a container is an Afghan national. He criticised the misrepresentation of a statement by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, which was taken out of context to suggest hostility towards the Afghan government and its people.

At least 37 Afghan nationals participated in the protests, he said and questioned their relevance to the demonstration. The minister alleged that among the protesters were criminals who sought refuge under the guise of the protest.

“In any civilized society, carrying weapons such as AK-47s during protests is not permitted,” he said, “the government designates specific areas for protests, and participants are expected to adhere to those guidelines.”

He further argued that “armed protesters” do not belong in a civilised community and accused the KP government for spending millions from its treasury on such activities.

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