Tag: Rangers

  • What was said in ‘strict message’ sent to Imran Khan? Muneeb Farooq has the details

    What was said in ‘strict message’ sent to Imran Khan? Muneeb Farooq has the details

    Senior journalist Muneeb Farooq on Monday revealed that a strict message was sent through Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership to incarcerated party founder Imran Khan regarding the party’s ongoing violent protest.

    Muneeb Farooq, on his YouTube channel, stated that the party founder had been told to behave or face repercussions for altercations with law enforcement. 

    On Monday night, Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, along with former speaker of the  National Assembly Asad Qaiser and Shibli Faraz, met the party founder in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi to discuss the next strategy as the protest goes on. 


    “Don’t listen to Bushra Bibi’s directions [on protest],” the journalist quoted the strict message that had also been conveyed to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders on November 25.

    The political analyst further stated that both the establishment and the federal government had refused to accept PTI’s three demands.

    PTI demanded the revocation of the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment and the release of political prisoners, including Imran Khan, and the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate.

    Last night, Naqvi seemed to confirm talks with the protesting opposition party, saying that the government had offered the Sangjani area for protest; however, reportedly, consensus was not reached between the government and Pakistan’s biggest opposition party.

    The Sangjani was the same venue on the outskirts of the federal capital where the PTI held its Sept 8 rally.

    Meanwhile, multiple PTI demonstrators have reached Islamabad’s roundabout D Chowk, and it can be seen that party followers are embracing security officials at the top containers of D Chowk in social media posts.

    However, the PTI convoy led by Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan’s spouse Bushra Bibi crossed the federal capital Blue Area and was only a few Kilometers (KM) short of reaching D Chowk.

    Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar has said that former First Lady Bushra Bibi was dead set on getting people killed.

    Tarar alleged that Bushra Bibi used others’ children as pawns, noting, “There is still time to stop and go back.”

  • Islamabad complete seal ho gya, Lahore ma Rangers pohanch gai

    Islamabad complete seal ho gya, Lahore ma Rangers pohanch gai

    As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prepares for what it has said will be peaceful protests in Islamabad, the federal capital has been entirely sealed off, including major roads.

    The local administration of Islamabad has imposed section 144 while mobile phone services have been suspended in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and all link roads have also been blocked. Security is on high alert, and double-layer containers have been put on the Faizabad bridge, Geo News reported.

    Barbed wires have been placed at D Chowk Islamabad, and additional police and rangers have also been deployed; Capital police have arrested three individuals from D Chowk till now.

    Precariously, the Islamabad expressway has been sealed in various locations. The metro bus in Rawalpindi has also been suspended till further notice. And Motorcycle pillion riding is also banned.

    Punjab Interior Ministry has also imposed section 144 in Rawalpindi, Attock and Sargodha. Rangers have been called in at Lahore, Rawalpindi and Attock.

    A notification issued by the Punjab Interior Ministry stated that three company services of Rangers have been requisitioned for October 5 in Lahore.

    Lahore’s entry points have also been halted with containers including Babu Sabu interchange, Thokar Niaz Baig, and Lahore Sialkot motorway.

  • Army to be deployed for ‘free and fair’ February 8 polls

    Army to be deployed for ‘free and fair’ February 8 polls

    The caretaker federal cabinet on Tuesday approved a summary requesting the deployment of the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces troops to help civil institutions in ensuring the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful general elections scheduled for February 8.

    The development occurred during a huddle between the caretaker cabinet and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar.

    According to the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, “The troops will perform duties in sensitive constituencies and polling stations and will also act as a rapid response force.”

    The federal cabinet unanimously approved the deployment of Pakistan Army and civil armed forces personnel at sensitive polling stations across the country for the upcoming general elections, based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior.
    The Pakistan Army also promised to provide essential assistance for the upcoming general election set to take place on February 8 next month.

    Soldiers, along with Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel, will perform election duties.

  • Rangers seize sugar worth Rs1 billion in crackdown against hoarders 

    Rangers seize sugar worth Rs1 billion in crackdown against hoarders 

    In a well-executed operation against sugar hoarders in Karachi, Rangers seized a significant quantity of sugar valued at Rs1 billion.

    They conducted raids at two separate sugar warehouses on Hub River Road in Baldia Town, resulting in the recovery of about 140,000 bags of sugar, as confirmed by the paramilitary spokesperson.

    The estimated value of the confiscated sugar is over Rs1 billion. Interestingly, this sugar was destined for illegal smuggling into Afghanistan via Balochistan, and it has been handed over to the civil authorities for legal action.

    The surge in sugar prices, exceeding Rs200, prompted the government to crack down on sugar hoarding nationwide, aiming to control the artificial inflation of this essential commodity.

    This crackdown not only recovered thousands of sugar bags but also led to the arrest of individuals involved in the illicit sugar trade, known as “sugar mafias,” who were stockpiling and selling sugar at high prices.

    While effectively addressing sugar hoarding, this campaign also reduced sugar prices in the local market. Recent data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) shows a significant 9.11 per cent decrease in sugar prices.

    In a well-executed operation against sugar hoarders in Karachi, Rangers seized a significant quantity of sugar valued at millions of rupees, as reported by The News on Saturday.

    They conducted raids at two separate sugar warehouses on Hub River Road in Baldia Town, resulting in the recovery of about 140,000 bags of sugar, as confirmed by the paramilitary spokesperson.

    The estimated value of the confiscated sugar is over Rs1 billion. Interestingly, this sugar was destined for illegal smuggling into Afghanistan via Balochistan, and it has been handed over to the civil authorities for legal action.

    The surge in sugar prices, exceeding Rs 200, prompted the government to crack down on sugar hoarding nationwide, aiming to control the artificial inflation of this essential commodity.

    This crackdown not only recovered thousands of sugar bags but also led to the arrest of individuals involved in the illicit sugar trade, known as “sugar mafias,” who were stockpiling and selling sugar at high prices.

    While effectively addressing sugar hoarding, this campaign also reduced sugar prices in the local market. Recent data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) shows a significant 9.11 per cent decrease in sugar prices.Additionally, this effort against hoarders and smugglers had a broader positive impact.

    Weekly inflation decreased by 0.25 per cent in the week ending on September 14, reversing seven consecutive weeks of inflation, mainly due to lower prices of chicken and sugar in local markets following government intervention.

  • ‘Group of trained militants’; PDM calls for strict action against Khan’s PTI

    ‘Group of trained militants’; PDM calls for strict action against Khan’s PTI

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Monday called for strict action against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI).

    According to an official statement, the decision was made during a six-hour meeting of the PDM, heads of coalition parties with Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.

    The meeting also decided to take action against those involved in maligning state institutions, including the armed forces and judiciary, through a “smear campaign”.

    “The meeting strongly condemned attacks on police and Rangers, who were obeying court orders, and called it an enmity against the state,” the statement said.

    “All evidences and proofs are available, under which stern action will be taken against those involved in the unrest,” it added.

    PDM strongly condemned the attacks on the police and Rangers personnel who were complying with the court’s orders on the direction of the PTI chairman and termed it “unacceptable”.

    Expressing solidarity with officers and jawans, the meeting resolved that strict action should be taken against the law-breaking elements as per the law. The session also termed the attacks on the law enforcers as enmity with the state which cannot be tolerated.

    “The entire nation witnessed that the PTI is not a political party but a group of trained militants,” the declaration read, adding that given the evidence and proof, it has been decided to take action as per the law.

  • The State VS. Imran Khan

    The State VS. Imran Khan

    For almost an entire week, we have witnessed violent clashes between the police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers in Punjab’s capital, Lahore. And on Saturday, the same visuals could be seen in both Lahore and the country’s federal capital, Islamabad. The state vs PTI Chairman Imran Khan paints a sorry picture for both politics and the writ of the state. It is as if no one cares about the consequences these clashes will lead to. The visuals on our television screens and on social media can lead one to think that no one is bothered about civility, be it the police or Khan loyalists. The past few days, we have seen lawlessness, desperation and disarray.

    It could all have been avoided had Imran Khan presented himself before the court in the Toshakhana case on March 13. He had been summoned numerous times, but Khan refused to show up. After his non-bailable arrest warrants were issued by the court, the police acted on it and tried to arrest Khan. However, Khan refused to budge. Eventually, there was only chaos and mayhem. There was drama, disruption and disorder yet neither the state nor Khan and his party took a step back. We saw petrol bombs thrown at the police by PTI workers, tear gas and heavy shelling by the police. Yesterday, Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants were finally cancelled by the court when he went to Islamabad. Though he could not go inside the court due to the clashes in the judicial complex between the PTI workers and the Islamabad Police, the court still accepted his ‘appearance’ while he was inside his car.

    On the other hand, when Khan was on his way to Islamabad, the police in Lahore went to his Zaman Park residence to conduct a search operation. From bulldozing walls to throwing paintings here and there, the police claims to have allegedly recovered weapons and petrol bombs from Zaman Park. PTI will move the court for contempt proceedings against the police for alleged violence against PTI workers, Khan’s staff and for violating the sanctity of Khan’s home. Both the use of force by the police and the way that Khan resisted his arrest through violence have raised several questions.

    What could have been done to avoid all the unrest that Lahore had to bear? Khan should have followed the rule of law and appeared before the court on March 13. The state’s response when its writ was challenged was shelling, rubber bullets, tear gas and breaking the gate of Khan’s residence at Zaman Park. What we have seen is that when titans collide, everything gets destroyed and no one really wins. Both ends lose and there is nothing to celebrate. We hope that after this episode, there will not be a repeat of what we saw last week. We hope that party workers and state institutions show patience, civil ways to support their leaders and not create law and order situation. We hope to see less political chaos and more stability in the coming days.

  • GHQ excuses itself from deploying army and rangers’ personnel for upcoming elections

    GHQ excuses itself from deploying army and rangers’ personnel for upcoming elections

    The General Headquarters (GHQ) on Thursday excused from providing personnel from army, paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) for the upcoming elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
    

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had requested the Defense Ministry to deploy army and rangers for the upcoming elections in the two provinces.

    Responding to the ministry, GHQ said that the forces are occupied with national security duties due to the recent wave of terrorism.

    However, Punjab Rangers will be available as the Quick Response Force during these elections.

    On the other hand, replying to the ECP’s letter, the Finance Ministry has asked the election-conducting authority to postpone its demand for an additional grant in the wider national interest.

    The finance ministry requested the election commission to delay its request for the grant until the economic situation of the country improves.

  • Twitterati praise Police, Rangers for saving blasphemy-accused from charged mob

    Twitterati praise Police, Rangers for saving blasphemy-accused from charged mob

    The Sindh Police and Rangers dispersed a mob that had gathered outside the home of a Hindu sanitary worker accused of alleged blasphemy on Sunday. The incident took place in Hyderabad, Sindh.

    People on social media are praising the role of the law enforcement agencies for saving the accused from the charged mob.

    Have a look at some reactions:

    https://twitter.com/alysalmaan/status/1561453107803979776

    https://twitter.com/Natsecjeff/status/1561386456739971073
    What happened?

    According to the police, a Hindu sanitary worker was targeted as a result of a personal dispute with a local resident. The accused man has been identified as Ashok Kumar, and he was charged with blasphemy under Section 295-B for allegedly desecrating the Quran.

    The case was registered on the complaint of Bilal, son of Bundo Khan Abbasi.

    After the news spread, a charged mob gathered around an apartment building and demanded that he should be handed over.

    Police then dispersed the violent mob.

  • PTI Azadi March: Imran sets out to lead party caravan, tensions escalate

    PTI Azadi March: Imran sets out to lead party caravan, tensions escalate

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Azadi March began on Wednesday, tensions rose across the country as police made use of tear gas and arrested several PTI marchers headed toward Islamabad.

    Khan’s message for PTI supporters

    PTI Chairperson Imran Khan called on his supporters to join his freedom march.

    In a video message, Khan said, “I will lead the Azadi March caravan from Peshawar, and God willing, we will head to Islamabad from there. I want each and everyone to leave because this is a defining moment.”

    Khan waves to supporters from a truck

    Imran Khan arrived at the Wali Interchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by helicopter.

    Khan, later, departed for Islamabad from the Wali Interchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    ‘Defining moment’ for Pakistan

    Imran also urged protesters to carry the Pakistani flag, calling today a “defining moment” for Pakistan.

    ‘No blockade can stop us’

    After reaching Swabi, Khan delivered a speech to supporters. In it, he said that “we are going to D-Chowk and no one can stop us” as the crowd cheered.

    Khan said that the PTI government did not bar any of them from staging protests as they “did not fear the people”.

    He said that the government was afraid as they had been plundering national wealth for the past 30 years. “I want to give the people a message from Swabi Interchange: whatever you do, we will cross all obstacles and reach D-Chowk. Our protest will be peaceful as it has always been.”

    “I want to give the people a message from Swabi Interchange: whatever you do, we will cross all obstacles and reach D-Chowk. Our protest will be peaceful as it has always been.”

     “This nation does not accept this imported government,” he declared, calling on the people to come out for what he has described of late as a “jihad” for “true freedom”.

    “All Pakistanis, women, children, families, youth, lawyers, retired army officers, everyone has to come out for real independence,” he said.

    No agreement has been reached

    Following the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the two sides have agreed on PTI holding a jalsa instead of a long march, Geo News reported. Talks between the government and PTI continued for two-and-half hours.

    Khan in relevance to the news tweeted, “Absolutely not! We are moving towards Islamabad & no question of any deal. We will remain in Islamabad till announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies & elections are given.”

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb also said that no agreement has been reached between the federal government and PTI. She said news of negotiations and an agreement between the government and PTI is “baseless”.

    Detention expected of Khan

    The government has decided to detain PTI Chairman Imran Khan with the top party leadership on its way to Islamabad from Peshawar today for the Azadi March, reports The News.

    Rangers deployed in Islamabad

    On Tuesday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah announced that the federal government will not allow any riots in the name of the PTI long march. Section 144 has been imposed in Lahore, Karachi and the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and the roads leading up to the capital city from different parts of the country have been blocked. Rangers have been called in by the government to help protect Islamabad’s, Red Zone.

    https://twitter.com/RashidK10425837/status/1529329373781934081?s=20&t=BqLkjo0MNs35Ix8fAEpfsg
    PTI workers clash with police at Lahore’s Batti Chowk

    PTI workers marching towards Islamabad from Lahore engaged in a clash with the police at Batti Chowk in Lahore as they tried to remove the barricades on the roads. Policemen stopped PTI supporters from moving forward and used tear gas.

    According to PTI’s official Twitter account, the marchers were also stopped at the Shahdara area.

    Dr Yasmin Rashid’s car attacked by police

    PTI supporters came forward and verbally abused the police officials. Meanwhile, Dr Yasmin Rashid tried stopping the police from taking away her car keys.

    Hammad Azhar tried to be arrested

    PTI leader Hammad Azhar tweeted, the impediments and containers on Bati Chowk, Ravi Bridge, and Shahdara have been removed and the roads have been cleared by “the public”.

    https://twitter.com/azammaalik/status/1529380891247755266?s=20&t=38SnfKGvZmlJ1vwGCvqC0w
    Weapons and ammunition recovered

    Meanwhile, police said that they have recovered heavy ammunition and weapons from the residences of PTI leaders Bijash Niazi and Zubair Niazi.

    DIG Operations Sohail Chauhdry in a press conference shared that the raids were conducted at Nawan Kot and Multan Road areas from where three persons were arrested. However, Zubair Niazi fled from the scene. Giving details of the arms recovered, the police officer said that six 223 bore guns, 13 rifles, 96 SMG rifles, and 26 magazines of pistols were found.

  • PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal baton-charged at symbolic opening of Karachi bus project

    PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal baton-charged at symbolic opening of Karachi bus project

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal and other party members came face to face with the Rangers on Thursday when the paramilitary troops prevented the members of the PML-N from performing ‘symbolic opening’ of the Green Line bus service in Karachi.

    The confrontation led to a brawl and scuffle between the two sides. It all began when a number of workers of the PML-N Karachi chapter, in line with the plan to hold a symbolic opening of the project, started to gather at one of the bus stations in North Nazimabad. The protestors were later joined by senior leaders, including former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal, former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair, and former federal finance minister Miftah Ismail.

    The PML-N workers faced resistance from the Rangers who were carrying sticks. The situation turned tense when Iqbal came forward and started arguing and insisted on exercising his democratic and legal rights.

    In the process, the PML-N claimed, Rangers also resorted to baton-charge that left Iqbal and a female worker injured.

    “But we don’t know under which law we were stopped by the Rangers. It didn’t end here. When we questioned their move, they restored to the worst state of terrorism. I hope that military leadership would take notice of the Ranger’s action,” said Iqbal.

    Showing bruises over his left hand due to the baton charge, Iqbal called it political vendetta of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, which had ordered the paramilitary force to attack PML-N workers and media.

    Twitterati condemned the act and reminded that no one deserves this treatment.

    Journalist Raza Rumi tweeted, “Shameful reminder of this terrible episode and tactic employed to undermine an elected representative and a member of the cabinet where all executive power (theoretically) resides.”

    Senior journalist Fahd Husain tweeted, “This photo is wrong for so many reasons: symbolically, optically, figuratively, and literally. No elected representative, regardless of political affiliation, should be treated like this, let alone someone as senior & respected as @betterpakistan Ahsan Iqbal.”

    Journalist Hasan Zaidi tweeted, “Meanwhile, why were the Rangers so invested in stopping a symbolic ceremony? Are they a political force?”