PM Shehbaz decides to establish Federal Anti-Riots Force

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a task force to identify and take effective action against those who spread chaos and disorder in Islamabad during recent days.

He was chairing a meeting regarding the law and order situation in Islamabad on Friday.

The task force will be led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and will include Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and representatives from the security forces.

The task force will ensure the identification of armed individuals involved in spreading chaos and violent incidents on Sunday last to give them exemplary punishment as per the law.

The Prime Minister decided to establish a Federal Anti-Riots Force to prevent any future attempt to create chaos and disorder in the country.

The meeting decided that the Anti-Riots Force will be equipped with international-standard professional capabilities and equipment.

The meeting also approved the establishment of Federal Forensic Lab. Advanced technology will be utilized in the Federal Forensic Lab to investigate such incidents and gather evidence.

Besides, it was decided to modernize the Islamabad Safe City project. It was also decided to strengthen the Federal Prosecution Service and increase its workforce.

The Prime Minister, on the occasion, said Pakistan is heading towards stability.  He said foes of Pakistan’s stability and development will not succeed in their nefarious designs.

Shehbaz Sharif said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province of brave and respectable people and a handful of disruptors do not represent the peaceful and honourable Pashtuns.

He said all Pakistanis, including those from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have rejected the march of 24 November.

He urged everyone to work together to protect Pakistan’s economic and national stability by preventing such sinister attempts.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the PTI as a “fitna” (mischief) over its recent “do-or-die” protest, criticizing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for allegedly using state resources to orchestrate an assault on the federal capital during the three-day demonstration.

“This is not a political party but a fitna and a group of terrorists,” the premier declared, instructing authorities to file cases against such groups. His remarks came during a high-level meeting focused on the country’s law and order situation.

Condemning the PTI, whose government was ousted through a no-confidence motion in April 2022, the prime minister referred to the protest as the “fourth invasion” of the capital.

Reflecting on PTI’s 126-day sit-in in 2014, Shehbaz said, “No one could have imagined such malicious intentions before 2014.” The sit-in, staged against alleged electoral rigging in the 2013 general elections, not only tarnished Pakistan’s reputation but also severely damaged its economy, he asserted.

“The Chinese president’s visit was canceled due to the [PTI] dharna,” Shehbaz added, accusing the party of attempting to disrupt Islamabad before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. PTI had called for nationwide protests on October 15, coinciding with the summit’s start date, but later canceled the demonstration after the government assured medical treatment for PTI founder, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 following convictions in multiple cases.

Addressing recent violent clashes in the capital, Shehbaz claimed PTI supporters were responsible for the deaths of a policeman and four Rangers personnel, while dozens of law enforcement officials suffered gunshot injuries.

He stressed the need for decisive action against rioters, asking, “Should we hand Pakistan over to this terrorist party?”

The prime minister vowed to prevent the PTI from further damaging the nation, saying, “We need to break these hands instead.” He also highlighted the economic toll of such protests, estimating daily losses to Pakistan’s economy at Rs190 billion.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the PTI as a “fitna” (mischief) over its recent “do-or-die” protest, criticizing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for allegedly using state resources to orchestrate an assault on the federal capital during the three-day demonstration.

“This is not a political party but a fitna and a group of terrorists,” the premier declared, instructing authorities to file cases against such groups. His remarks came during a high-level meeting focused on the country’s law and order situation.

Condemning the PTI, whose government was ousted through a no-confidence motion in April 2022, the prime minister referred to the protest as the “fourth invasion” of the capital.

Reflecting on PTI’s 126-day sit-in in 2014, Shehbaz said, “No one could have imagined such malicious intentions before 2014.” The sit-in, staged against alleged electoral rigging in the 2013 general elections, not only tarnished Pakistan’s reputation but also severely damaged its economy, he asserted.

“The Chinese president’s visit was canceled due to the [PTI] dharna,” Shehbaz added, accusing the party of attempting to disrupt Islamabad before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. PTI had called for nationwide protests on October 15, coinciding with the summit’s start date, but later canceled the demonstration after the government assured medical treatment for PTI founder, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 following convictions in multiple cases.

Addressing recent violent clashes in the capital, Shehbaz claimed PTI supporters were responsible for the deaths of a policeman and four Rangers personnel, while dozens of law enforcement officials suffered gunshot injuries.

He stressed the need for decisive action against rioters, asking, “Should we hand Pakistan over to this terrorist party?”

The prime minister vowed to prevent the PTI from further damaging the nation, saying, “We need to break these hands instead.” He also highlighted the economic toll of such protests, estimating daily losses to Pakistan’s economy at Rs190 billion.