Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced the formation of a task force under the leadership of Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi to identify those who instigated anarchy during the protests by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party. Shehbaz has also announced the establishment of a ‘Federal Anti-Riot Force’ to prevent any future attempts to create anarchy and disorder in the country.
Shahbaz Sharif made this announcement while addressing a high-level meeting on the law and order situation in the country. His statement came a few days after Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) started a march towards Islamabad demanding the release of its leader.
Task force will identify rioters
The Naqvi-led task force will include Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ataullah Tarar and representatives of security forces. Sharif said the task force would ascertain the identity of the armed men involved in spreading chaos last Sunday and recommend punishment.
Pak PM said that the proposed federal anti-riot force will be equipped with international standard professional capabilities and equipment. The meeting also approved the establishment of a forensic lab equipped with the latest technology to investigate such incidents and collect evidence.
Called PTI a ‘group of terrorists’
He said about Imran’s party, ‘It is not a political party but a fitna (trouble) and a group of terrorists.’ He directed to register cases against the groups involved in violence. He also accused PTI of killing security personnel during the protests and warned that the time has come to take strict action against the rioters.
‘Riots cause loss worth billions’
He said that PTI will not be allowed to destroy Pakistan. “We have to break these hands (instead),” he said. Talking about the economic loss, Shahbaz said that Pakistan suffers a loss of Rs 190 billion every day due to protests and dharnas.
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