Islamabad: Chief Commissioner of Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, has affirmed that no one will be allowed to challenge the authority of the state, following a series of violent protests in the capital.
In a joint press briefing with Islamabad’s Inspector General (IG), Ali Nasir Rizvi, Chief Commissioner Randhawa announced that all blocked routes in Islamabad had been reopened after protestors attempted to disrupt the city’s normal operations. He also noted that a Belarusian delegation was currently in Islamabad and that some of the protesters involved were foreign nationals, including Afghan citizens.
Randhawa stressed the importance of maintaining the state’s authority and revealed that authorities had personally detained several Afghan nationals who were part of the protest. He reminded the public that while protests are permitted, they must follow the proper legal channels. Any individual wishing to protest in Islamabad must submit a formal request to the district administration, which will then be reviewed.
The Chief Commissioner also clarified that protestors had been advised to stage their demonstration in Sangjani, but they insisted on gathering at the highly sensitive D-Chowk. The protest turned violent as demonstrators, armed with weapons, set fire to green spaces, trees, and metro bus stations, causing significant damage. Several police and Rangers personnel were injured during the clashes.
IG Islamabad, Ali Nasir Rizvi, made a clear distinction between peaceful protests and acts of terrorism, condemning the violence. He stated that the actions of the protestors—who used firearms and engaged in direct attacks on security forces—could not be classified as legitimate protests, but rather as terrorist activities.
Rizvi highlighted that on November 26, security personnel were directly fired upon, with tear gas shells used by the protestors. He pointed out that such actions, which involved various types of weaponry and direct assaults on law enforcement, were far beyond the scope of lawful protest and should be regarded as acts of terrorism.
