PM Shehbaz orders creation of anti-riot forces to tackle protests

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for the violence during recent protests, accusing the party of causing significant economic damage to the country.

During a review meeting on law and order, the Prime Minister directed authorities to establish professionally trained anti-riot forces across the country, equipped with international-standard tools.

The protests, which took place earlier this week in Islamabad, led to widespread unrest as PTI supporters flooded the capital, defying a ban on gatherings.

The demonstrations, calling for the immediate release of PTI founder Imran Khan, were abruptly called off after a crackdown by law enforcement agencies (LEAs). PTI leader Salman Akram Raja claimed that at least 20 people lost their lives during the operation, and the party intends to challenge the government in court.

Islamabad's police chief, Ali Rizvi, denied claims of live ammunition use during the crackdown. He stated that 600 protesters were arrested on Tuesday, bringing the total number of arrests since Sunday to 954.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif was briefed on the damage caused by the protests, including the vandalism of public property and attacks on law enforcement personnel.

The Prime Minister condemned the violence, describing it as an attempt to destabilize the country and harm its economy. He accused the PTI leaders of trying to create chaos instead of taking a legal route.

"These so-called revolutionaries are making sinister attempts to destroy the country," Sharif said. He emphasized that the violence had caused billions of rupees in losses and that those responsible for inciting the unrest should be swiftly identified and punished.

The Prime Minister also issued instructions to develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent future protests in Islamabad and other cities, aimed at protecting national security and maintaining order.

In a separate address to the 26th National Security Workshop of Defence University, PM Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving Pakistan’s economic security, stressing the interconnection between national security and economic stability.

Sharif celebrated the performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, which recently crossed 100,000 points, noting that this was a positive indicator of the country’s economic progress. However, he acknowledged the ongoing economic challenges, citing the country's near-default situation in June 2023, whi