| ISPR informs joint inquiry launched over Bahawalnagar incident
| Laments certain elements exploited the situation to propagate divisive narratives on social media
| Adds joint inquiry to ascertain facts of ‘unfortunate incident’ in Bahawalnagar
| Names named President of Opposition alliance
| Section 144 imposed in Pishin ahead of joint Opposition’s gathering
RAWALPINDI: After short video clips showing dozens of masked men wearing military garbs thrashing cops in Bahawalnagar went viral on social media, the Pakistan Army and the Punjab Police have decid-ed to jointly investigate the incident, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Friday.
The military’s media wing in a statement said an unfortunate incident occurred in Bahawalnagar re-cently, which was promptly addressed and resolved through collaborative efforts of military and police authorities.
“Despite this, certain factions with vested motives started fanning vitriolic propaganda on social media to create divisions between state institutions and government departments,” the statement read.
“To ensure a fair and deliberate inquiry, and to determine responsibility for violation of laws and mis-use of authority, a joint inquiry comprising security and police officials will be conducted for ascertain-ing the facts and apportioning responsibility,” it concluded.
A string of videos went viral which purportedly showed men in army uniforms beating up police per-sonnel in Bahawalnagar, which drew criticism from different segments of social media. Later on Wednesday, the Punjab Police objurgated “fake propaganda” on social media platforms, say-ing in a post on X that the matter has been taken out of context.
Earlier, The six opposition parties named Mahmood Khan Achakzai as president of their newly formed alliance “Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aaeen” (Constitution Protection Movement) against the government.
As per the details, Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal hosted a meeting of the alliance that was also attended by Omar Ayub of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Mahmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Majlis-e-Wadhat-e-Muslimeen’s (MWM) Allama Nasir Abbas and Liaquat Baloch of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
They discussed and finalised a schedule for nationwide protest meetings.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub said that the movement named Tehreek Tahafuz Aaeen, aims to combat a ‘massive rigging’ in the general elections 2024.
Omar Ayub said that all opposition parties also agreed to establish a coordination committee, with Mahmood Achakzai nominated as the president.
He said that they would hold two public gatherings in Balochistan on Saturday.
The opposition leader in the National Assembly also criticized the rulers and termed it “form 47 gov-ernment”. He said that a country without respect for the constitution has no future.
Omar Ayub said that the movement would also eradicate the ‘dual legal system’ in the country.
Earlier, the alliance was anticipated as the Grand Opposition Alliance as they announced to launch anti-government movement after Eid-ul-Fitr.
The opposition parties alliance also announced to hold public gatherings across the country to protest against ‘massive’ rigging in the elections. The schedule for public gatherings in other cities would be announced later in consultation with all parties.
Sources privy to the development said that the Moulana Fazal-ur-Rehman-led Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) would also be approached to join the opposition in the movement against the govern-ment.
BNP Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal has been tasked to contact Moulana Fazal-ur-Rehman and Jiye Sindh Party. The Grand Opposition Alliance would carry out the movement with a motto of ‘non-interference in politics, an independent judiciary, rule of law and supremacy of people’.
Earlier, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been imposed in Pishin ahead of the opposition alliance’s public gathering on April 13.
The Deputy Commissioner of Pishin has issued a notification that reads, “Section 144 has been im-posed to ensure public safety and maintain law and order”.
Under Section 144 of CrPC, a ban has been imposed on gatherings of more than five people within the city. Additionally, no one would be allowed to block main highways and roads.
The development came after the newly formed Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aaeen (Constitution Protection Movement), the six-party opposition alliance announced to hold a public gathering in the city on April 13.
The six opposition parties named Mahmood Khan Achakzai as president of their newly formed alliance “Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aaeen” (Constitution Protection Movement) against the government.
As per the details, Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal hosted a meeting of the alliance that was also attended by Omar Ayub of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Mahmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Majlis-e-Wadhat-e-Muslimeen’s (MWM) Allama Nasir Abbas and Liaquat Baloch of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
Omar Ayub said that all opposition parties also agreed to establish a coordination committee, with Mahmood Achakzai nominated as the president. He said that they would hold two public gatherings in Balochistan on Saturday (April 13). –Agencies
