ISLAMABAD: A group of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists on Friday entered the Sindh House after breaking the main gate during a protest.
A large number of the PTI activists were gathered outside the Sindh House building for hours to protest against the dissident lawmakers taking shelter at the Sindh House. Many of them were raising slogans and brandishing ‘lotas’, a derogatory symbol for turncoats in politics.
Islamabad police ordered the protestors to vacate the main gate of the building and moved to the other side, however, they refused and managed to storm the building while raising slogans against the opposition.
The protest started off peacefully but soon turned violent as demonstrators broke the gate open and stormed inside the Sindh House. The incident happened despite the presence of a heavy contingent of police. The workers chanted slogans against the PTI MNAs and in PM Khan’s support.
PTI’s youth wing Insaf Student Federation (ISF) workers in Faisalabad also protested against MNA Raja Riaz demanding his resignation from the party. A heavy contingent of police was deployed outside the MNA’s house for his security.
The demonstrators held placards and posters depicting the faces of the MNAs covered in black ink. A huge crowd blocked the road and chanted slogans against the MNAs. A similar protest also took place in Peshawar against MNA Noor Alam Khan.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has ordered to arrest the PTI supporters who were involved in the incident. He condemned the turn of events and said that the situation is now “under control”.
He added that the inspector general of police Islamabad has been instructed to arrest all those involved in the violent protest, including MNAs Attaullah Niazi and Faheem Khan. He further said that security has been tightened around the lodge and police have been instructed to take strict actions against protesters.
PPP leader Sharjeel Memon, who was present inside, termed the incident a failure of Islamabad police and the interior ministry. He said the way federal ministers had been questioning why policemen from Sindh were deployed at the building had received their answer now. He claimed that two PTI MNAs, Faheem Khan and Ataullah Niazi were also part of the group that attacked the Sindh House.
“We consider the attack on Sindh House an attack on Sindh province,” he said, adding that Islamabad Police remained silent. “If Sindh police was not present, PPP MNAs staying inside with their families would be in danger. Imran Khan has been defeated. Now he wants a clash.”
Memon appealed to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and the Supreme Court to immediately take notice of this “terrorist attack” inside the Red Zone a case should be registered against federal ministers and MNAs.
