Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has issued a warning to the Punjab Police after a failed attempt to reach Liaqat Bagh for a protest and a confrontation with police at Attock.
On September 28 (Saturday), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) called for a protest at Liaqat Bagh, Rawalpindi. The city was turned into a container hub, and multiple clashes occurred between PTI protesters and law enforcement.
The most violent clash took place at the Attock Bridge, where Punjab Police tried to stop convoys coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Several officers and personnel were injured in the confrontation.
Numerous images and videos of the clash circulated on social media, some showing police firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, while others showed protesters assaulting police personnel. In one video, demonstrators were seen mocking Punjab Police by lifting their uniform trousers.
Later, on September 28, the Punjab Police released a detailed report of the injuries sustained by officers and personnel during the PTI protest. The report stated that "rioters injured 26 police officers and personnel."
The report noted that mobs attacked police parties at Haro Bridge, Katti Pahari, and the M1 Motorway at Attock.
Punjab Police confirmed that SHO Inspector Sajid, ASI Amir Sajjad, and ASI Khurram Shehzad were injured by sticks and stones. Other injured personnel included Usman Ali, Umar Shehzad, Shakir Ali, Akbar, Irfan Ali, and Azhar, along with Constables Aziz Ahmed, Saqib Ali, Abdul Malik, Mazhar, and Zaheer Abbas. Constables Ghulam Fareed, Imran, Tayyab Hussain, and Muhammad Imran were also targeted. Constables Irfan, Sharjeel, Imran Khan, Qasim Anmol, and Faizan Khan were among the injured. Throughout September 28, RPO Rawalpindi Babar Sarfaraz Alpa and DPO Attock remained in the field.
Ali Amin Gandapur, along with his convoy, failed to reach Liaqat Bagh and turned back from 47 kilometers away, stating that they did not want a confrontation with institutions and had registered their protest. This led to severe criticism from provincial government and PML-N circles.
Now, after his appearance in Peshawar High Court, Gandapur addressed the media, issuing a warning to Punjab Police, urging them not to follow unlawful orders, or else they would have to bear the consequences. He added, "Next time, I will take the Punjab Police personnel here Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but I care about their families."
He warned, "I'm giving this warning again to the Punjab Police. I let you go that day. I made my workers stop, and for that, I and my people faced a lot of criticism. But I'm telling you, I cared about your children and your families. If you don’t care about our people and their families, then next time if you are caught, I swear to God I won’t spare you. I will bring you here."
After Gandapur's statement, provincial minister Daniyal Chaudhry spoke to the media in Attock, stating that four to five thousand trained individuals attacked the police. The attackers were armed with iron rods, barbed sticks, and tear gas equipment, and some carried firearms.
Daniyal Chaudhry met with the injured police officers in Attock, reporting that several officers had sustained head injuries and had been kidnapped and wounded by the attackers.
He further stated, "The DPO Attock prevented a disaster bigger than May 9. The government's clear message is that such incidents will be stopped with force."
He added that the convoy led by Gandapur from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not come for a rally but to attack the state and property.
Meanwhile, on September 28, during the protest in Rawalpindi, PTI workers and leaders were charged in various police stations, including Waris Khan, New Town, R.A. Bazaar, Civil Lines, and City Police Stations, for rioting, vandalism, damaging public property, attacking police, and violating Section 144.
Rawalpindi Police have registered six cases against over 250 PTI leaders and workers, with three of the cases naming Imran Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur.
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