Murad Saeed Expresses Concern Over Missing PTI Workers Amid Islamabad Protests

Islamabad:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former minister, Murad Saeed, has expressed grave concern over the safety of his party workers who participated in the ongoing protest in Islamabad. In a message posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Saeed revealed that he has been trying to contact his team members and ground-level workers for the past 10 hours, but many have remained unreachable.

He shared that despite efforts to get in touch, there is no news about several of his colleagues—whether they are safe, injured, or detained. Saeed added that those he had managed to contact were in a state of shock, further highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the situation.

“Many of my colleagues are still missing, and we don’t know if they are alive, injured, or have been arrested. The situation is dire,” Murad Saeed stated. He mentioned that when large crowds gathered at D-Chowk for the protest, military personnel had assured them that their protest was their legal right and that they could peacefully sit there. However, things quickly escalated, and soon after, snipers were reportedly seen on nearby rooftops, and leaders of the protest were instructed to pull their workers back.

Saeed pointed out that the protesters, including PTI youth wing members, MPs, and other supporters, had initially come with the intention of a peaceful demonstration. “These were peaceful people who had come with their lives in their hands, hoping to express their views without violence,” he added.

The PTI leader further explained that as night fell, all the lights in the area were switched off, and shortly afterward, gunfire was heard from nearby buildings. “Our worst fears were realized, and shots were fired at the protesters. We had anticipated attempts to arrest PTI leaders, including former First Lady Bushra Bibi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, but we also feared for their safety,” Murad Saeed said.

He described the horrifying scene when protesters, including members of the PTI youth wing, rushed to protect Bushra Bibi’s car, but many were struck by gunfire. “The workers stood their ground despite the barrage of bullets, and it was only when they saw their comrades falling that they realized the gravity of the situation.”

According to Murad Saeed, there were at least 10,000 people at D-Chowk during the gunfire, and many of them were local PTI supporters who had been with the party for years, some even joining the party in front of his eyes. He condemned the brutal use of force, calling it an act of “shedding innocent blood” by those he referred to as “followers of Yazid.”

He added that despite the violence, the sacrifice of their workers would not be in vain. “Their blood will not be wasted,” he said, reiterating his belief that these were people who had come out with hope for a better future, only to face cruel violence at the hands of the state.

Murad Saeed’s emotional message paints a grim picture of the chaos that unfolded during the protests and reflects his frustration over the lack of information about the fate of many party workers.