Punjab suffered more than Rs6,000 million worth of losses due to violent protests on May 9, triggered by PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest, interim chief minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday.
“We will not sit idle until every culprit is arrested,” he said at a press conference in Lahore. “There is no doubt. All evidence is present that it was pre-planned and it was conveyed to them.”
Khan’s arrest by police and paramilitary forces on May 9 triggered violent protests, leading to attacks on state and sensitive buildings. But earlier this week the PTI chief got bail in several cases.
The caretaker chief minister shared the details of the damages in a presentation.
All these targets were on the hit list of outlawed Taliban, the interim chief minister of Punjab said as he spoke about the damages caused by the violent protest.
The PTI usually protests at the Liberty Roundabout, the interim chief minister said and added that when these protesters entered the “Cantt they became terrorists”.
Around 3,400 people were outside the Jinnah House, he said, and vowed that the government would arrest all the arsonists come what may.
He claimed that protesters were planning to burn all planes after entering the Pakistan Air Force base.
The Punjab police have so far arrested more than 2,000 people. Further investigation was under way. He added that the public has given a “good response” to the government’s advertisement to help identify the miscreants. The government has announced a prize money for the people.
He warned that if any protester enters a government building, the police will take strict action against them.
“If any wrong person is arrested he will be released I guarantee,” he said.