PTI miscreants to be brought to book: Atta Tarar

Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar has said the armed individuals were identified among the protesters, raising questions about the peaceful nature of the demonstrations.

“PTI workers were equipped with modern weapons while teargas shells were recovered from them,” he said questioning if such things were brought to peaceful protests.

"Where do the protesters acquire these weapons and shells? Has the KP government provided them?"

Tarar also criticized the indiscriminate use of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resources, saying the PTI protesters misused the provincial resources.

He said the government is piecing together evidence from CCTV footage and anti-state elements will be dealt with an iron fist.

The minister emphasized that the government would not negotiate with what he termed a "terrorist group," insisting talks would only be held with political parties.

He declared that miscreants had been effectively pushed back, with none visible in the sensitive D-Chowk area.

Tarar also condemned incidents of looting, stating that the protests had devolved into chaos in some areas. The minister reiterated that no one would be allowed to get into the Red Zone, reaffirming the government's resolve to maintain law and order.

Afghans were also among the protesters, the minister said, adding that the government would investigate where they got their modern weapons.

He said these so-called champions martyred police and rangers.