An armed man was killed after he opened fire at security personnel on Mall Road in Rawalpindi, security officials said.
As per the details, the assailant was identified as Muhammad Hussain, a resident of Khyber district and an active member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
A PTI flag, weapon, ammunition and documents were recovered from his possession, officials said, adding that further investigation into the incident was under way.
While security was subsequently tightened in Rawalpindi’s cantonment area after the incident, conflicting reports claimed the incident had taken place near a key military establishment in the country’s premier garrison city. No other casualties were immediately reported.
Reacting to the development, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar condemned the firing, saying there was no justification for a PTI worker to open fire on security personnel.
“Violence and carrying weapons while protesting has become PTI’s practice,” Tarar said, alleging that the party’s previous protests and long marches had also involved people carrying weapons.
He also accused PTI supporters of attacking police and Rangers personnel during demonstrations. “PTI does not believe in peaceful protest,” Tarar said, adding that the party’s “ideology is violence”.
The info minister said the recovery of a PTI flag and other documents from the deceased had brought many things to light. He also alleged that the party wanted to spread anarchy and destroy law and order in the country.
The minister also accused PTI of announcing protests whenever the country reached important stages of development, and said the country’s leadership was working for Pakistan’s development.
He also expressed confidence that Pakistan and its people would continue to succeed.
