LAHORE: Caretaker chief minister (CM) Punjab Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi gave a hard-hitting press conference today in which he issued a final warning to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers that any unlawful activity, obstruction in due discharge of official duties, or creating hindrance in state affairs, would no longer be tolerated now. The chief minister's order — that the writ of the state must be maintained by all means available, as necessitated by the evolving ground realities — has remotivated the police force across Punjab, The Friday Times (TFT) has learnt.
It may be noted that on Monday, CM Naqvi gave a 'free hand' to inspector general (IG) of Punjab police Dr. Usman Anwar, so that law enforcement would give a 'befitting reply' to anyone who tried to take the law into their own hands or obstruct state affairs.
In the press conference, Naqvi said, “enough is enough. If they do this again, the government will take retaliatory action. We have shown tremendous restraint, but now miscreants will realise that the government exists and it will enforce the writ of the state.”
The police have been given authorisation to employ whatever means necessary to maintain the law and order situation in the provincial capital, and the CM has empowered the IG with complete authority to make operational and tactical decisions based on the situation on the ground.
“If somebody raises their hand against the police, that hand will be crushed,” the caretaker chief minister asserted. CM Naqvi also said he unequivocally stands with the police force.
Why did Police and Rangers return without arresting Imran Khan?
Sources familiar with the recent security operations at Zaman Park told TFT that police and Rangers had reached Imran Khan’s home twice when they visited his Zaman Park residence to implement court orders pertaining to the former premier’s arrest warrants. “Law enforcement agencies were stopped by the CM and ordered to return as he was not in favor of any loss of life.”
Sources said that the caretaker CM was aware that the PTI chairman was using people as 'human shields' to protect him, and he could use his arrest for more political mileage. “CM Naqvi asked police high command to remain patient and not take any serious measures against the miscreants,” a senior police official said.
The senior police official added that police personnel were very much demoralised and demotivated, because they were the ones who were attacked by PTI supporters who pelted stones on them. Police were also attacked with petrol bombs while in response they only used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the agitators, as the police reached Zaman Park to implement court orders.
CM Naqvi confirmed the same, and told TFT that, "the police and Rangers had arrived at the Zaman Park gate twice, but we were informed about the presence of weapons inside, so I ordered them to return from the gate both times. It is not our intent to disturb the situation, nor do we want any loss of life."
He regretted that a policeman was beaten up while going home at night. He was also perturbed that off-duty Elite Force personnel were attacked, their weapons taken, and their vehicle plunged into the canal.
Political parties and vandalism
The caretaker CM said that political parties do not engage in such actions, and vandalism was not a political activity. "Ordinary political workers do not carry out such attacks," he said.
"How long will the police endure, do their duty, be abused and even beaten?" the caretakers CM asked.
He maintained that Imran Khan continued to threaten the police, including the IG Dr. Usman Anwar and Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana by name just a day ago.
“They cannot be allowed to threaten police openly,” Naqvi said, adding that he had been consoling policemen for many days, exhorting them to be patient and show restraint to avoid any casualties.
What changed his mind?
CM said that an Elite Force vehicle was stopped at 1:30 am, the personnel were accosted and their weapons were taken away, and the vehicle was damaged and subsequently thrown into the canal.
He noted that there were fences on the sides of the canal, so it was not an easy task to throw the force's Toyota Hilux vehicle into the water system.
“This cannot be done by ordinary people. Some people at Zaman Park are known to have been involved in terrorist activities previously, and their pictures have been collected. People from outside Punjab are also suspected to be involved in these actions against police," he maintained.
'Return the official security if you don’t trust the police'
CM Naqvi said that if Khan does not trust the Punjab police, then he should send back the police personnel who are deployed for his personal security.
“How can you hurl insults at them and then ask them to give you security? The police cannot continue to provide you security if you beat and abuse their officials everyday,” he concluded.
Gunmen inside Zaman Park opened fire on police
Speaking to TFT, a senior police official who was involved in the operation to remove encroachments from Zaman Park said that police did not enter the residence of the former premier.
“The government and the police showed maximum restraint, and no policeman was allowed to carry weapons inside Zaman Park. There were gunmen inside who opened fire,” a senior police official said. He added that they also tried to make 'backdoor contacts' to ensure compliance with court orders, but they did not receive any actionable response.
JIT to investigate terrorist activities at Zaman Park
Speaking to TFT, CM Naqvi said that he has formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the acts of terrorism against the Punjab police, adding that a notification to the effect would be issued today.
"We are writing a letter to the election commission as well, and sending them details of activities which fall under terrorism not politics, that have taken place in the past few days,” Naqvi said.
Are our policemen ‘expendable’?
A head constable who took part in one of the operations at Zaman Park said that we were only carrying sticks, and used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the PTI workers, but in response petrol bombs were used against them. “I along with other police officials were quite demoralised; they had beaten us, and the state remained silent. In fact, the state asked us to return,” he said, adding that he was aware that it would make maintenance of law and order difficult in the days to come. "How can you expect us to maintain the writ of the state if we bow down like this?" he asked.
“I am grateful to chief minister sahib for announcing financial help from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 500,000 for injured policemen. It will motivate the police officials and remind them that our government stands with them,” he asserted.
Another senior police official agreed with the head constable and said that it was a welcome measure by CM and IG, which would not only facilitate the recovery of injured police officials who had been beaten up by the PTI supporters, but will also strengthen police morale which had become diluted when its ability to maintain law and order was questioned in the past few days.
“It is a great and timely decision which would help police in maintaining law and order, and will also give an impression that no one is above the law of the land,” a senior police official said. He confirmed that these announcements have motivated the police force which was previously demoralised.
PTI workers damaged state machinery worth Rs. 320 million
Speaking to TFT, a senior police official shared details according to which on March 14 and 15, four water cannons were destroyed along with six police pick-ups (Toyota Hilux), and the total damages are estimated at Rs. 320 million.
Imran Khan termed police operation 'human rights violation'
PTI chairman Imran Khan has termed the police operation at Zaman Park a "human rights violation" and has asked the office bearers of his party to take up this matter with the European Union, United Nations, international human rights organisations, and parliaments.
It may be noted that on Monday, CM Naqvi gave a 'free hand' to inspector general (IG) of Punjab police Dr. Usman Anwar, so that law enforcement would give a 'befitting reply' to anyone who tried to take the law into their own hands or obstruct state affairs.
In the press conference, Naqvi said, “enough is enough. If they do this again, the government will take retaliatory action. We have shown tremendous restraint, but now miscreants will realise that the government exists and it will enforce the writ of the state.”
The police have been given authorisation to employ whatever means necessary to maintain the law and order situation in the provincial capital, and the CM has empowered the IG with complete authority to make operational and tactical decisions based on the situation on the ground.
“If somebody raises their hand against the police, that hand will be crushed,” the caretaker chief minister asserted. CM Naqvi also said he unequivocally stands with the police force.
Why did Police and Rangers return without arresting Imran Khan?
Sources familiar with the recent security operations at Zaman Park told TFT that police and Rangers had reached Imran Khan’s home twice when they visited his Zaman Park residence to implement court orders pertaining to the former premier’s arrest warrants. “Law enforcement agencies were stopped by the CM and ordered to return as he was not in favor of any loss of life.”
Sources said that the caretaker CM was aware that the PTI chairman was using people as 'human shields' to protect him, and he could use his arrest for more political mileage. “CM Naqvi asked police high command to remain patient and not take any serious measures against the miscreants,” a senior police official said.
The senior police official added that police personnel were very much demoralised and demotivated, because they were the ones who were attacked by PTI supporters who pelted stones on them. Police were also attacked with petrol bombs while in response they only used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the agitators, as the police reached Zaman Park to implement court orders.
CM Naqvi confirmed the same, and told TFT that, "the police and Rangers had arrived at the Zaman Park gate twice, but we were informed about the presence of weapons inside, so I ordered them to return from the gate both times. It is not our intent to disturb the situation, nor do we want any loss of life."
He regretted that a policeman was beaten up while going home at night. He was also perturbed that off-duty Elite Force personnel were attacked, their weapons taken, and their vehicle plunged into the canal.
Political parties and vandalism
The caretaker CM said that political parties do not engage in such actions, and vandalism was not a political activity. "Ordinary political workers do not carry out such attacks," he said.
"How long will the police endure, do their duty, be abused and even beaten?" the caretakers CM asked.
He maintained that Imran Khan continued to threaten the police, including the IG Dr. Usman Anwar and Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana by name just a day ago.
“They cannot be allowed to threaten police openly,” Naqvi said, adding that he had been consoling policemen for many days, exhorting them to be patient and show restraint to avoid any casualties.
What changed his mind?
CM said that an Elite Force vehicle was stopped at 1:30 am, the personnel were accosted and their weapons were taken away, and the vehicle was damaged and subsequently thrown into the canal.
He noted that there were fences on the sides of the canal, so it was not an easy task to throw the force's Toyota Hilux vehicle into the water system.
“This cannot be done by ordinary people. Some people at Zaman Park are known to have been involved in terrorist activities previously, and their pictures have been collected. People from outside Punjab are also suspected to be involved in these actions against police," he maintained.
'Return the official security if you don’t trust the police'
CM Naqvi said that if Khan does not trust the Punjab police, then he should send back the police personnel who are deployed for his personal security.
“How can you hurl insults at them and then ask them to give you security? The police cannot continue to provide you security if you beat and abuse their officials everyday,” he concluded.
Gunmen inside Zaman Park opened fire on police
Speaking to TFT, a senior police official who was involved in the operation to remove encroachments from Zaman Park said that police did not enter the residence of the former premier.
“The government and the police showed maximum restraint, and no policeman was allowed to carry weapons inside Zaman Park. There were gunmen inside who opened fire,” a senior police official said. He added that they also tried to make 'backdoor contacts' to ensure compliance with court orders, but they did not receive any actionable response.
JIT to investigate terrorist activities at Zaman Park
Speaking to TFT, CM Naqvi said that he has formed a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the acts of terrorism against the Punjab police, adding that a notification to the effect would be issued today.
"We are writing a letter to the election commission as well, and sending them details of activities which fall under terrorism not politics, that have taken place in the past few days,” Naqvi said.
Are our policemen ‘expendable’?
A head constable who took part in one of the operations at Zaman Park said that we were only carrying sticks, and used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the PTI workers, but in response petrol bombs were used against them. “I along with other police officials were quite demoralised; they had beaten us, and the state remained silent. In fact, the state asked us to return,” he said, adding that he was aware that it would make maintenance of law and order difficult in the days to come. "How can you expect us to maintain the writ of the state if we bow down like this?" he asked.
“I am grateful to chief minister sahib for announcing financial help from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 500,000 for injured policemen. It will motivate the police officials and remind them that our government stands with them,” he asserted.
Another senior police official agreed with the head constable and said that it was a welcome measure by CM and IG, which would not only facilitate the recovery of injured police officials who had been beaten up by the PTI supporters, but will also strengthen police morale which had become diluted when its ability to maintain law and order was questioned in the past few days.
“It is a great and timely decision which would help police in maintaining law and order, and will also give an impression that no one is above the law of the land,” a senior police official said. He confirmed that these announcements have motivated the police force which was previously demoralised.
PTI workers damaged state machinery worth Rs. 320 million
Speaking to TFT, a senior police official shared details according to which on March 14 and 15, four water cannons were destroyed along with six police pick-ups (Toyota Hilux), and the total damages are estimated at Rs. 320 million.
Imran Khan termed police operation 'human rights violation'
PTI chairman Imran Khan has termed the police operation at Zaman Park a "human rights violation" and has asked the office bearers of his party to take up this matter with the European Union, United Nations, international human rights organisations, and parliaments.