ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad police told the Supreme Court on Friday that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf protesters rushed directly towards D-Chowk on May 25 to hold their ‘Azadi March’ on the “directions” of PTI chairman Imran Khan instead of the venue designated between sectors G-9 and H-9, as per the self-explanatory tweets and video clips featuring the party’s top leadership on social media.

A report furnished to the apex court by the Islamabad inspector general of police (IGP) explained that at about 6:50pm on May 25, Mr Khan in a video message near Chach Interchange (Attock), en route to Islamabad, ackno­wledged the Supreme Court order of the day and called upon his supporters to reach D-Chowk.

The document was furnished in response to the court’s June 1 direction, seeking reports from the city administration and spy agencies to explain at what time the PTI chairman asked his party workers to reach D-Chowk, contrary to SC directions to hold the rally at a ground between H-9 and G-9 sectors. Sealed reports were also furnished before the court on behalf of the spy agencies.

The IGP’s report explained that 26 people were treated at two hospitals and later discharged, whereas 77 suspects were arrested in 19 cases. No civilian was killed. It recalled how the PTI had requested the deputy commissioner on May 23 for security for the ‘Azadi March’ at the Srinagar Highway between sectors H-9 and G-9.

Capital police report to Supreme Court says protesters were ‘motivated’ to cross barriers, confront law enforcement agencies

On May 25 at about 2:35pm, while addressing party workers at Anbar Interchange (Swabi) before starting the long march, Imran Khan reiterated his intention to reach D-Chowk, the report said, adding that after the SC orders at 6pm, all the roads leading to that point were blocked, as they were much beyond the designated area of Sector H-9 for the PTI rally.

The police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary were directed to show maximum restraint so that protesters could reach the G-9/H-9 area. However, groups of people led by their leaders kept on moving towards D-Chowk. Police and law enforcement agencies then had to move back towards the Red Zone, as per the directions of their high command, the report stated.

It claimed the protesters “had come motivated” to cross the barriers and confront police and LEAs as per directions of their leadership, and around 6:50pm, some of them kept advancing in vehicles and motorbikes against the LEAs who were on foot. The protesters manually removed the containers placed near China Chowk and managed to cross the first layer of blockades by climbing a nearby grill, installed at the Express Chowk, and entered the sensitive area. Police and LEAs that were showing restraint up till now had to repel the protesters at this point. The protesters then also removed two other layers of containers at Express Chowk and reached D-Chowk.

The report claimed the crowd was organised to enter the Red Zone under the PTI leadership, which had reached Express Chowk with the intent to proceed further towards D-Chowk, as per directions of the party’s highest command.

Meanwhile, in their social media posts from 7:54pm onwards on May 25, party leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, Saifullah Niazi and Zartaj Gul, kept on urging their workers to reach D-Chowk to welcome Imran Khan, the report said, adding there was no provocation or breach of assurance by the police or LEAs, administration or the field troops. Police and the administration also kept announcing through social and electronic media to stay away from the Red Zone.

Police took lawful, necessary and proportionate steps to disperse the crowd that was continuously trying to reach the closed areas in the Red Zone. They only employed defensive, anti-riot measures, including teargas shells, to stop the charged mob and maintain law and order, but the protesters were charged and adamant to move towards the high-security zone. During the stone-pelting by protesters, 23 law enforcement personnel were injured.

Police and other LEAs were not issued any firearms to avoid any casualty, despite credible information about armed men among the protesters. When apprehension and threat level was enhanced, Article 245 of the Constitution was invoked and the armed forces were called in by the government to assist the civil administration, the report stated.

Initially, 200-300 protesters managed to enter the Red Zone while moving empty containers manually, while the number later swelled to a maximum of 700-800.

Meanwhile, PTI central information secretary Farrukh Habib said the Islamabad administration had furnished the report only to please the “imported government”.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2022