A huge cache of modern weapons was recovered from the house of PTI leaders in Lahore which police feared could have been used in the party’s long march being kicked off today, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The number of brand-new and modern weapons were so great that rival PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz tweeted the news along with the pictures of the seized weapons.
Lahore DIG Suhail Chaudhry in a news conference said that the modern weapons along with bullets have been recovered from the PTI leaders.
The DIG said that they had recovered the weapons from the house of PTI leaders Zubair Niazi and Bajash Niazi. The weapons were smuggled in vehicles there and the PTI leaders managed to escape from the scene after the police raided their house, Suhail Chaudhry added.
He further said that Lahore Police intercepted the vehicles and confiscated the new and modern arms from PTI leaders’ possession that could have been used in the long march.
The raids were conducted in Nawan Kot, Multan Road areas, he said.
The DIG said that the weapons recovered included 96 submachine rifles (SMGs), six 223-bore guns, three pistols, 70 small arms packets and 50 magazines.
The police raided searched three vehicles and recovered the weapons from one vehicle.
The DIG claimed that the arms were transported to Lahore at 12.00 midnight and the apparent purpose was to use these weapons in the long march.
He said a case has been registered and there people have been arrested.
He said that police carried out raids keeping in view the incident that occurred last year when a religio-political party opened fire at the Lahore police and shot dead two police personnel.
“This time we gathered extensive information ahead of the long march,” he said.
Suhail Chaudhry said that police were on high alert and search operations were being carried out to foil any untoward incident.
He said only two high-profile leaders have been arrested including Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed and Ejaz Chaudhary.
Weapons recover reflects long march’s ugly face: Maryam
PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz in a tweet has maintained that the recovery of weapons showed the ugly face of the so-called long march of PTI.
Govt not to tolerate terrorism in guise of politics: Rana Sana
Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan Wednesday said the government will not tolerate terrorism in guise of politics as police seized huge cache of weapons from residence of PTI leaders in Lahore ahead of their long march.
“The seizure of heavy arms and ammunition from the houses of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) officials is evidence of a bloody march”, the federal minister said in a statement.
The federal minister said that PTI General Secretary’s house is a depot of ammunition and the discovery of arms from the homes of PTI officials is proof of a bloody march. The nation has seen that from where did the bullet came which killed an innocent police personnel.
This incident has proved that PTI’s march is not a peaceful political caravan but an armed struggle, he said.
Rana Sanaullah said that Imran Niazi cannot be trusted after the martyrdom of a young policeman and recovery of heavy arms and ammunition from the houses of PTI officials.
He urged former prime minister Imran Khan to follow the constitution and law.
The minister also warned that Imran Khan should not use the machinery and resources of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for inciting riots in the country. “Those filling up the foundations of the economy with explosives will not be allowed to destroy the peace of the society”, he said.
The constitution and the law will be strictly enforced and those who will take law into their hands will be dealt strictly.
He said the government would ensure protection of life and property of the people at all cost.
Those who have been putting the nation behind the lights of the truck of promises for three and a half years are now making noise in the Bhaati Chowk in Lahore.
Arms’ recovery makes intentions of PTI marchers clear: CM Hamza
While reacting to the recovery of weapons from the house of a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Lahore, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz said that it had made the intentions of marchers clear, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.
“This is not a freedom march but an inclusive plan of bloody march,” said the chief minister.
“Yesterday, five children were orphaned by shooting a constable dead and the writ of the state was challenged,” added he.
“Imran Niazi wants anarchy and chaos in this country. In a nuclear armed country, such anarchy is tantamount to enmity with the country,” stated Hamza Shehbaz.
“The assassination of Constable Kamal and the recovery of arms have exposed their intentions,” he flayed.
He addressed the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and said, “Imran Niazi! Don’t dream of coming to power by shedding blood in the streets. The government will deal with all such heinous plans in an effective way.”
He said that no one would be allowed to disrupt the law and order situation in Pakistan, adding that the protection of life and property of the people was the responsibility of the state.
Senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir also tweeted about the recovery of weapons.