On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar addressed the handling of a political party’s protest on November 24, asserting that the government acted with restraint and patience throughout the incident.
During a briefing to foreign diplomats at the Foreign Office in Islamabad, Dar explained that law enforcement was not equipped with live ammunition during the protest. Instead, they were authorized to use water cannons, tear gas, and batons to manage the situation.
Dar further clarified that the deployment of the military was in accordance with constitutional requirements, and the armed forces were stationed as a protective measure for key federal institutions, including the Parliament House, Prime Minister’s House, and the Presidency, as well as the diplomatic community.
Expressing regret over the use of resources by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government during the protest, Dar emphasized that no regional entity should have the authority to stage protests in the capital.
He reaffirmed the government’s priority to maintain the security of the Red Zone, a sensitive area in Islamabad, and noted that a special law was enacted earlier this year to safeguard diplomats’ security.
Dar also expressed concern about the timing of the protests, pointing out that it was unusual for the party to hold demonstrations when foreign delegations were visiting Pakistan.
