Armed Groups in PTI Protests Raise Serious Concerns Over Weaponry and Coordination
The recent protests in Islamabad by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters have raised alarm after videos surfaced showing armed groups wielding state-grade weaponry, sparking concerns over the involvement of trained individuals in the unrest.
Footage circulating on social media revealed protesters firing tear gas shells with precise accuracy, indicating a level of training typically associated with law enforcement agencies. This has led to suspicions that the individuals involved were not ordinary demonstrators, but rather highly-trained operatives.
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The Mystery of Government-Grade Arms
Reports suggested that the weapons used in these protests were modern, military-grade, and typically reserved for law enforcement, raising critical questions about how such firepower ended up in civilian hands. There is growing speculation that government resources from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may have been misused to supply these arms to protesters, further intensifying concerns about the involvement of state apparatus in fueling the unrest.
Targeted Attacks and Heavy Damage
The protests were marked by organised attacks on security forces, including Rangers and police, with several law enforcement officers reported martyred or injured. Public property also sustained significant damage during the protests, adding to the severity of the situation and underscoring the level of coordination behind the demonstrations.
The Question of Facilitation
The most pressing question emerging from these developments is: Who facilitated the provision of such high-grade weaponry for use against law enforcement? Experts have suggested that this may not have been a spontaneous act but rather part of a deliberate strategy to destabilise law and order in the federal capital. The use of government-grade arms against state forces in an organised manner suggests a calculated effort to escalate tensions and disrupt peace in the region.
