‘PTI worker’ shot dead after allegedly firing on security forces in Rawalpindi’s Mall Road

• One security personnel was injured during exchange of fire.
• Suspect identified as Muhammad Hussain from Khyber.
• Police say suspect belonged to ‘specific’ political party.

Security forces on Tuesday killed a gunman, whom police claimed was affiliated with a “particular political party”, after he allegedly opened fire on a security forces’ patrol team on Mall Road in Rawalpindi.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Rawalpindi police said the incident took place at around 11:15am on August 11 when Muhammad Hussain, son of Muhammad Baz, allegedly opened fire with a pistol at a security forces’ patrol team on Mall Road.

The firing injured one security personnel, following which the forces immediately returned fire and killed the attacker, the police spokesperson said.

According to the police, Hussain was affiliated with a specific political party. Further evidence regarding his affiliations and links was recovered from his mobile phone and other belongings, the spokesperson added.

Further investigation into the incident is underway, the police said.

The Rawalpindi police spokesperson said law enforcement agencies remained prepared and would continue efforts to eliminate all forms of terrorism and activities aimed at creating unrest.

Following the incident, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar slammed the Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for what he called its “violent politics”, saying that there was no justification for the incident.

Commenting on the firing, the federal minister said resorting to violence and arriving armed had become the worst aspect of PTI’s politics.

He said the party’s protests and calls for long marches were on record for involving people who arrived armed, adding that security personnel had previously been fired upon and killed.

Tarar said the PTI did not believe in peaceful protest and that the latest incident had exposed its nefarious objectives and designs before the nation. He said firing on a security official in broad daylight and in public demonstrated the party’s belief in violence.

The minister said a PTI flag and other documents had been recovered from the scene, making it clear like daylight that the objective behind such protests was to spread anarchy, disrupt the law-and-order situation and destroy peace in the country.

Referring to the PTI’s announced long march in September, Tarar said the party had called for protests at a time when Pakistan was gaining international recognition.

Tarar said whenever Pakistan moved forward, developed and gained respect, the PTI could not digest it and announced protests. He said the party had previously announced protests when a head of state, president or prime minister of another country was visiting Pakistan.

The minister said the Mall Road firing had opened everyone’s eyes and demonstrated that the purpose behind PTI protests was to arrive armed, open fire, bring down bodies, disrupt law and order and cause damage to the country.

The Imran Khan-launched party has announced a long march on September 27, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi saying that the purpose of the PTI long march would not be Imran’s release but access to the party founder.