Maryam Nawaz Accuses PTI Protesters of Using Police-Only Weapons in Attacks on Law Enforcement

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has strongly condemned the violent attacks on Punjab Police officers and personnel during protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Maryam Nawaz expressed deep outrage over the shooting of a police constable and the injury of over 20 police officers, including SPs and DSPs, during the protests. She highlighted that protesters were seen carrying weapons typically only available to law enforcement, including short machine guns, tear gas, knives, and masks.
She further stated that shootings took place at various locations, including Ghazi Brotha, Mianwali, and Hazara Motorway. “The weapons used by the protesters are those that are exclusively in the possession of the police,” she remarked, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that the Punjab Police had been kept unarmed in previous protests to avoid clashes. She referred to the last protest where a constable was martyred and over 25 police officers were injured. “This is no longer a protest, but an attempt at armed terrorism,” she stated, criticizing the misuse of state resources.
Punjab Information Minister Criticizes PTI Leadership Over Protest Violence
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari also condemned the violence, stating, “The final call has been missed; they should not make another one.” She accused certain PTI members of staging “designed arrests” and aligning with the narrative of PTI founder Imran Khan, instead of supporting the party’s official stance.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Bukhari said, “Yesterday, the public saw that Bushra Bibi is just a housewife. She was insisting on quickly freeing Imran Khan, all while wearing a ring worth several carats.”
She also criticized the political leadership for failing to effectively address the violence, noting that 80 PTI workers had been arrested across Punjab, including in Lahore, and that protests had caused severe disruptions in multiple cities, with vehicles set on fire and police vans destroyed.
Bukhari contrasted the peaceful image of the PTI with the actions witnessed during the protest. “What we saw yesterday was not peaceful protest but an organized effort to incite violence,” she stated. She also took a swipe at PTI leaders, claiming that despite having 104 members in Punjab’s provincial assembly, no one came out to protest. “This is not what peaceful protest looks like,” she added.