ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan acknowledged the sacrifices of the police force while paying special tribute to the police personnel for their “heroic stand” against, what the premier called, “organised violence”.
The statement came as a tweet on Friday. Earlier, the police had clashed with TLP protestors, leading to 4 policemen being martyred and 600 injured.
“I want to pay special tribute to our police force for their heroic stand against organised violence intended to create chaos to blackmail the government,” tweeted the prime minister.
PM Imran Khan said the government will look after the families of the martyred, adding that the entire nation was indebted
Government’s Response
A special cell comprising the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), Safe City Lahore, and other agencies has been set up to identify through videos protesters who were involved in violence, newly appointed Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said.
In a Tweet, the minister said the cell will view videos on social media of the three-day protests staged across Pakistan by the banned religious party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in order to identify and arrest perpetrators. Action against them will be taken under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The government declared TLP a banned and proscribed organisation by the government yesterday, after three days of countrywide riots by the group. The ban was implemented under Rule 11(b) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997.
Fawad Chaudhry added that the district administrations will monitor all speeches to track down the violent protestors.
The government on Friday also suspended social media apps across Pakistan ahead of more protests expected by TLP members.
At least four people, including two policemen, were killed during the violent protests, while up to 200 people were injured.
According to the Interior Ministry, around 2,135 protesters have been arrested from across the country, out of which 1,669 were from Punjab and 228 from Sindh.
