Total 672 arrested in connection with riots, over 85 FIRs
JAVED KHAN
PESHAWAR
Altogether 13 government and two private installations have been completely damaged by the enraged workers and supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during their two-day protests and riots across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to a report prepared by police department regarding the damages caused by the rioters to the public and private buildings in the province, the miscreants attacked the historic building of Radio Pakistan Peshawar, barriers of the army check posts, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office Peshawar, office of the Provincial Election Commission, office of Saif City Peshawar and Mardan, toll plazas of Peshawar and Swat Motorways.
There has been considerable loss to private and public properties because of protest rallies of PTI against the arrest of their leader and party chairman Imran Khan in Islamabad, the report added.
As per details, the total arrest made by the KP Police across the province reached 672 and over 85 FIRs have been registered against the elements involved in riots and clashes with law enforcement agencies.
Around 21 cases were lodged in Peshawar, five in Haripur, four each in Khyber and Charsadda.
Of the total detained people, 164 people have been arrested in Peshawar, 44 in Mardan, 18 in Nowshera, 41 in Haripur.
The arrested persons were allegedly involved in attacks on police and other law enforcement agencies personnel and caused damages to buildings and vehicles.
The violent protestors also set ablaze a cattle market near Bacha Khan Chowk and plundered an arms shop in the Hashtnagri market. The building of Radio of Pakistan and Chagi mountain model were also set ablaze by the angry mob in Peshawar.
Moreover, police claimed to have arrested more than 316 people from different parts of the province in two days under section 144 violation.
According to details, the workers of PTI during the riots have set on fire a total of 17 vehicles, including 12 government vehicles, in different areas of the province.
The miscreants have also plundered and stolen valuable items from Radio Pakistan Peshawar, NADRA Mega Centre, Police Stations and many other buildings and shops.
Around 58 policemen have been injured in clashes with people who took to the street in different districts of the province while government-run hospitals have reported more than 300 injuries of civilians.
In KP seven deaths were reported due to the violence that erupted soon after the PTI chairman and former prime minister was arrested and continued for two days in major cities and towns of the province.
Four people have lost their lives in the provincial metropolis, two in Kohat and one death was reported from Lower Dir district.
PTI workers during the protests blocked roads in more than 139 places of the province.
Eyewitnesses said the district administration and police played the role of silent spectator and did not try to stop protesters from blocking the roads, damaging government installations and setting ablaze government and private vehicles.
A key source in the provincial home and tribal affair department said that the provincial government has decided to show a strong deterrent against rioters and miscreants who damaged public and private properties in different districts.
Sources said that a committee in this regard was being formed to initiate recovery from those who were directly involved in attacks and caused losses to the properties.
