Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, has strongly rejected accusations that state forces opened fire on PTI protesters, insisting that no fatalities occurred during the recent protests in Islamabad.
In a media briefing following his visit to D-Chowk and Jinnah Avenue, Tarar dismissed the claims made by PTI as “false propaganda” intended to divert attention from their own failures. He clarified that while the protestors were dispersed, there was no use of live ammunition by the authorities. He further emphasized that the protests, which were marked by chaos, did not result in any loss of life.
Tarar also addressed the damage caused by protesters, pointing out several abandoned vehicles and accusing PTI supporters of vandalizing public property. “It is unclear what the real purpose of their protest was,” he remarked, expressing confusion over the protest’s objectives.
The Minister did not hold back in his criticism of PTI leadership. He suggested that the party’s leadership often makes bold statements but fails to live up to them. He pointed to the departure of Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who were reportedly seen leaving the protest site together in the same vehicle, as an example of the contradictions within the party’s actions.
Tarar’s remarks have only heightened the political tensions between the ruling party and PTI, with both sides accusing each other of spreading misinformation and misconduct following the demonstration. This ongoing battle of narratives reflects the deepening political divide in the country, particularly in the wake of such high-profile protests.
