Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar on Thursday alleged that PTI workers were well-prepared to attack law enforcement agencies outside Zaman Park.
He was addressing a press conference in Lahore on Thursday along with Punjab interim Information Minister Aamir Mir.
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The top cop of Punjab said FIRs were registered against people who damaged public property.
“Shooting is very easy, but shooting in not bravery,” the IGP stated, adding the PTI workers damaged public property in the riots.
The IGP said police were attacked with petrol bombs, while PTI workers had assaulted the police and Rangers vehicles.
He said police were barred from carrying weapons to avoid casualties, and highlighted that the force carried weapons in all previous operations.
“Police personnel were injured in stone pelting by PTI workers,” he remarked, adding the Islamabad DIG was injured from stone pelting.
Dr Anwar said there was no objective behind conducting the operation in Zaman Park. The only purpose of PTI workers was to turn Zaman Park into a no-go area, so police could not get there, he added.
He said the Lahore High Court had ordered Punjab police to follow the law, adding the law enforcers would seek ‘search’ permission of Zaman Park from the high court.
Defending the no-fire policy, he said both the Punjab and Islamabad police did not fire towards the PTI workers.
The information minister said the government had decided loss of life will be avoided.
