Shooting on security personnel in Pindi: Minister says PTI leadership cannot 'absolve themselves of responsibility'

On Wednesday, Rawalpindi's Minister of State for Interior, Tallal Chaudhry, expressed his belief that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership could not "absolve themselves of responsibility" following the death of a man who was allegedly shot dead by law enforcement personnel on Rawalpindi’s Mall Road. PTV News, citing security sources, reported that the suspect was a resident of Khyber district and an active member of the PTI.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had previously condemned the party's "politics of violence" in response to the incident.

In a press conference addressing the matter, Chaudhry reminded the audience that PTI leadership had been cautioned against perpetuating hatred and anarchy. He lamented that such ideologies were being fed to the youth, leading them to express their discontent in violent ways. Chaudhry questioned why the shooter, who was allegedly mentally unstable, did not lash out at his family or party members, but instead targeted the security forces, whom he believed had incited him.

The minister alleged that the PTI continuously cultivated hatred and anarchy among the youth through their founder's tweets, speeches, and internal meetings. He accused the party's leadership, as well as YouTubers, social media influencers, and opinion makers outside the country, of exploiting the youth for views and financial gain. Chaudhry emphasized that the incident was not an attack on a political party worker but a soldier carrying out their duty to maintain law and order.

He urged the PTI to demonstrate progress made in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during their 17 years in government, rather than resorting to violence and hatred. Chaudhry called for politics to be conducted through tangible achievements rather than empty rhetoric. He firmly stated that hatred, anarchy, and violence serve no purpose for the country or its people.