PTI denies govt's claim Murad Saeed holed up at KP CM House

• Imran allowed PTI to stage protest in Sangjani, says Saif.
• “I think, Murad Saeed was not there [Islamabad]," he adds.
• No personnel of LEA was allowed to use live ammunition, says Tarar.

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's spokesman, Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, on Sunday dismissed the Centre’s claim that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed was in hiding at the CM House in Peshawar.

Speaking on the Geo News programme “Naya Pakistan”, Barrister Saif said: “If they had seen Murad Saeed, they would have arrested him.” He asked why the government did not arrest Saeed if he was spotted during the Islamabad protest.

“I think, Murad Saeed was not there,” he added.

Responding to a question, Barrister Saif claimed that the PTI protesters were unarmed, adding that law enforcers opened straight fire on their workers. He was of the view that the government was misguiding the nation.

To another query, he reiterated: “PTI founder allowed us to stage a protest demonstration in Sangjani [area in Islamabad].

His remarks came hours after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar alleged that the PTI leader, who had absconded after the May 9 riots, was harboured at the PTI-ruled province's CM House.

Addressing a press conference earlier in the day, Tarar claimed that Saeed was seen leading a group of party supporters armed with guns, shells, and marbles, which were recovered from the frontline following their arrest.

The embattled PTI marched on Islamabad last month, responding to party founder Imran Khan’s “final call,” despite the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) orders barring its "do-or-die" protest in the federal capital, which violated the newly enacted peaceful assembly law.

During the three-day protests, fierce clashes erupted between the law enforcers and the protesters. At least five security personnel, including three Rangers and two policemen, were martyred in the clashes. On the other hand, the former ruling party claimed that at least 12 of their workers and supporters were killed.

Tarar dared the PTI to share the video evidence with the public which could prove that the law enforcement agencies had opened straight firing on its protestors who descended on Islamabad.

“I have shared the video evidence that shows how a person from the protest told the protesters to open indiscriminate fire at the police. Now, I challenge the PTI to share one video of straight firing or use of live ammunition by the LEAs against the protesters.”

Different videos were played during the press conference that showed how the PTI protestors used guns, shells and marbles against the LEAs.

Tarar categorically rejected the "straight-firing" propaganda by the PTI on social media, saying it was the PTI which brought professional criminals and Afghan nationals to the protest to ensure that there would be bloodshed in the city.

“No personnel of the LEA was allowed to use live ammunition,” he said, adding that the fake videos and pictures were being created to cover up their humiliation and political failure of the so-called "final call."

The minister said that the Pakistan Institute of the Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Poly Clinic had already issued their press releases clearly denying any gunshot-related deaths.

He said that the PTI had a track record of staging violent protests in the country and had been giving a call for protest whenever there was a visit of a foreign delegation in the country, citing the recent protests by the party at the time SCO summit which was attended by 12 countries’ prime ministers.

“States never bow down before anyone,” he said, adding that the government of Pakistan would maintain the writ of state and law and order at all costs by ensuring the safety of the public.

“The purpose of their protest is to get dead bodies, derail peace and sabotage the economy,” he remarked.

— Additional input from APP.