Islamabad Inspector General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir Khan on Friday submitted a report to the Supreme Court detailing the incidents of arrival of PTI workers at D-Chowk during the party’s ‘Azadi March’ that ended on May 26.
In the report, the police chief said that the crowd was “organized to enter D-Chowk led by PTI, who had reached Express Chowk with the intention of proceeding towards D-Chowk as per the instructions of the party high command.” ”
On June 2, a five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandiyal directed The report is to be submitted to the capital city administration and spy agencies, which details the time at which Imran Khan asked his party workers to reach D-Chowk and whether the crowd entering the red zone was ‘organized and supervised’ or their action was random.
PTI’s Azadi March Before the imposition of Section 144 by the authorities on May 25 – a measure used to prevent gatherings was there. Shipping containers were placed on major routes to block their path.
Irrespective of the move, the protesters forcibly tried to go to Islamabad in containers amid heavy police shelling and lathi-charge. PTI supporters were also arrested in cities across Punjab.
Despite PTI’s march towards Islamabad’s D-Chowk and police firing tear gas shells, the Supreme Court followed earlier directions and asked the government not to arrest or use force, to hold its protest in Islamabad’s H-9 area. ordered. the March.
However, after announcing the election and giving the government a six-day deadline to dissolve the assemblies, Imran opted to withdraw from 9th Avenue and warned that he would otherwise return to the capital with “the whole country”.
read more, How Imran’s march ended suddenly
In the report submitted in the top court today, the IG of Islamabad submitted answers to seven questions put by the bench.
At what time did Imran Khan announce the arrival of party workers to D Chowk?
The report revealed that on May 25, at 6:50 pm, Imran “accepted the Supreme Court’s decision and called upon the public to reach D-Chowk” in a video message near Chach Interchange, Attock.
,[He] It also said that he would also try to reach D-Chowk in an hour or so. The message was broadcast on mainstream media channels at 7:38 pm. The announcement was also made at 9:54 pm after crossing the Attock bridge.”
The report also mentioned that PTI initially informed Administration that he wanted to gather his party workers on the Srinagar highway between H-9 and G-9 area. But later, “Imran Khan in a video message announced to reach D-Chowk via Srinagar highway and urged party workers/supporters to join him”.
When, where and how did the crowd cross the barricades to enter the hitherto closed area?
The IG of Islamabad wrote that the police had closed all roads leading to D-Chowk on May 25, when the court issued an order allowing PTI to hold its protest at Islamabad’s H-9 .
“After decision The Supreme Court, Police, Rangers and FC were directed to show maximum restraint and halted further action so that the protesters could reach the G-9/H-9 area. However, groups of people led by leaders continued to move towards D-Chowk on Jinnah Avenue which is a separate road from the Sri Nagar Highway. The police and the LEA went back to the red zone as per the instructions of the police command.”
The report claimed that the protesters had come “inspired” to overcome obstacles and “to face the police and the LEA as per the instructions of their leadership”. They were armed with wooden sticks and were pelting stones at the LEA, adding that they were “using vehicles to drive the police officers”, who were “only sticks to push the protesters”.
It states that heavy machinery was also used to remove containers and obstacles. Protesters also set trees and bushes on fire and “climbed over containers”.
The report further said, “At 7:30 pm, the protesters pushed away the containers kept near China Chowk in Jinnah Avenue and cleared the way for their vehicles and expected a big rally,” the report added. That the police had to resort to tear gas and opened fire. Prevent them from entering the red zone.
Meanwhile, “a group of around 2,000 party workers led by Imran Ismail, Saifullah Niazi, Zartaj Gul and others” gathered near the Islamabad Stock Exchange building at Jinnah Avenue, the report said. “They made several attempts to cross the first layer of containers on the edge of the Red Zone and infiltrate the Red Zone, but were repelled by the LEA using tear gas shells.”
However, the report stated that the containers were taken away by the protesters on the morning of 26 May the next day. “At 8:05 a.m., PTI workers whose total number at Express Chowk was around 1,000-1,500 at that time pushed down the top layer of the second pile of containers after Express Chowk and inside the Red Zone.” It said, Rangers and police personnel were present at the venue but they “exercised absolute restraint” and did not take any coercive action to prevent their entry.
Following this, rangers and police personnel formed a layered formation to prevent the protesters from moving towards Parliament and other sensitive buildings, the police report revealed. It said the protesters did not march ahead and the police did not resort to tear gas or other punitive measures.
Was the crowd entering the red zone organized or monitored or did it move randomly?
The IG reported that a crowd was organized to enter D-Chowk under the PTI leadership, who had reached Express Chowk with the intention of proceeding towards D-Chowk as per the direction of the party high command.
“In their social media posts from 7:54 pm on May 25, Fawad Choudhary, Saifullah Niazi and Zartaj Gul urged the workers to reach D-Chowk to welcome Imran Khan.”
Was there any act of provocation or breach of assurance by the Government?
There is no provocation or any such thing on the part of the government or law enforcement, the report said. “Repeated announcements made through social and electronic media to stay away from red zones by police/LEA, administration and political leadership.”
It said the police had planned to deploy the force on the orders of the apex court and the police provided “free access” to the rally near H-9 and G-9 area.
Was there any action or behavior by the ICT Police against the protesters which was not in proportion to the actual or alleged wrong done by the protesters?
Islamabad Police replied that it had taken legal, necessary and proportionate steps to disperse the crowd marching towards D-Chowk.
“The police took only defensive, anti-riot measures to maintain law and order, but the protesters were charged and adamant to go into the red zone. The personnel were injured.”
The report said no firearms were issued to police and the LEA to avoid any casualties, despite credible information “about armed personnel among the protesters”.
How many protesters managed to enter the Red Zone?
Police claimed that initially 200 to 300 protesters had managed to enter the red zone, but later the amount increased to 800.
What security arrangements were relaxed by the executive officers?
The report said that no police officer stopped the protesters from marching towards the designated venue of the rally. All police officers were asked to return to the red zone.
It added that barricades at G-9 and H-9 locations were also removed.
Were any security barriers broken or breached by the protesters?
Police said the protesters managed to clear the container near China Chowk and Express Chowk. Further, none of the protesters reached H-9 and G-9 locations, it further highlighted, adding that they all went as far as D-Chowk.
In its final reply to the court about the injuries sustained during the protest, the police said that 21 civilians were taken to PIMS Hospital for medical treatment and five civilians were taken to emergency polyclinic. At the same time, 17 “accused” were arrested in 19 cases.