ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik claimed on Friday that outsiders were involved in the daylong violence and fighting with police in Islamabad. It led to the arrest of a large number of protesters and injuries to over two dozen people, including policemen.
Violent protests over the increase in public transport fares, which erupted in Bhara Kahu on Thursday, continued in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday.
The violence took a political turn when Mr Malik asserted that protesters had come from outside.
Shakil Awan, newly-elected PML-N MNA from Rawalpindi, and Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, a local legislator of the same party, denied that their workers were involved in the violence.
While Islamabad police were desperately struggling to deal with the largely young protesters, just across the bridge of Faizabad, Punjab police acted as mere spectators. Islamabad police SP Hakim told DawnNews that despite repeated requests, they did not get any assistance from Rawalpindi police. He accused the Punjab police of waiting for orders from their high-ups to help the Islamabad police. When DawnNews approached an SP of the Punjab police standing across the bridge, he said that Rawalpindi police had nothing to do with the protests because these were taking place within the jurisdiction of Islamabad police.
Dr Tariq Chaudhry said the violence had nothing to do with politics. Local people have genuine concerns over the increase in public transport fares and I myself felt their resentments over the past few weeks, Dr Tariq said, adding that top government officials should verify facts before making any statement.
DAWN.COM | Front Page | Malik sees outsiders? hand in Islamabad violence
Violent protests over the increase in public transport fares, which erupted in Bhara Kahu on Thursday, continued in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday.
The violence took a political turn when Mr Malik asserted that protesters had come from outside.
Shakil Awan, newly-elected PML-N MNA from Rawalpindi, and Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, a local legislator of the same party, denied that their workers were involved in the violence.
While Islamabad police were desperately struggling to deal with the largely young protesters, just across the bridge of Faizabad, Punjab police acted as mere spectators. Islamabad police SP Hakim told DawnNews that despite repeated requests, they did not get any assistance from Rawalpindi police. He accused the Punjab police of waiting for orders from their high-ups to help the Islamabad police. When DawnNews approached an SP of the Punjab police standing across the bridge, he said that Rawalpindi police had nothing to do with the protests because these were taking place within the jurisdiction of Islamabad police.
Dr Tariq Chaudhry said the violence had nothing to do with politics. Local people have genuine concerns over the increase in public transport fares and I myself felt their resentments over the past few weeks, Dr Tariq said, adding that top government officials should verify facts before making any statement.
DAWN.COM | Front Page | Malik sees outsiders? hand in Islamabad violence
