ISLAMABAD, December 4, 2024: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefed members of the diplomatic corps on Wednesday about the recent clashes between PTI protesters and authorities in Islamabad.
He reassured diplomats of the government’s commitment to ensuring the security of the Red Zone, a high-security area in the capital.
Dar explained that to achieve this, the government had implemented the ‘Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024,’ which bans protests in the Red Zone and mandates that permission be obtained from a magistrate for any public gatherings.
He noted that PTI had chosen to hold a protest on November 24, which coincided with the planned visit of the Belarusian president.
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Dar expressed surprise at this timing, especially considering the presence of foreign dignitaries in the country.
He also highlighted that PTI had organized protests during other key foreign visits, such as the Chinese Prime Minister’s visit on October 14, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit shortly thereafter, which had led to disruptions.
Dar referred to these actions as “mala fide,” citing the 2014 PTI sit-in that had resulted in the postponement of the Chinese president’s visit.
Dar emphasized the importance of diplomat safety, stating that the government had enacted the law to prevent protests in the Red Zone in order to safeguard both Pakistanis and the international community.
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He noted that PTI’s insistence on holding protests in the area despite a ruling from the Islamabad High Court, which prohibited such gatherings, had led the government to deploy law enforcement.
He clarified that the police and Rangers were equipped with only water cannons and tear gas, not live ammunition, and that the army was stationed as a third line of defense to protect important government buildings.
Dar also raised concerns about the legality of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government using public resources to organize a march on the federal capital, questioning their authority to do so.