Peshawar CPO seeks details of tear gas stock after reported usage in PTI protest

• CPO writes to all DIGs and heads of other units in this regard.
• AIG/Logistics to be deputed for physical verification, says CPO.
• Available stock of tear gas with regions, units to be checked.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Central Police Office (CPO) has sought details of tear gas stock after reports emerged that tear gas was used in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Islamabad protest.

The law enforcement agencies have arrested nearly 1,000 supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan who, stormed the federal capital this week to demand his release, the city’s police chief said on Wednesday.

Islamabad’s police chief, Ali Nasir Rizvi, said weapons, including automatic rifles and tear gas guns, were seized from the protest site where thousands had gathered.

Whereas, Khan’s aides alleged, without providing evidence, that hundreds had suffered gunshot wounds during chaotic scenes overnight in the heart of Islamabad as police dispersed protesters led by Khan’s wife who had broken through security barricades. They also said thousands had been arrested.

Rizvi denied that live ammunition had been used during the operation, which he said police had conducted alongside paramilitary forces and the site was cleared in a matter of hours.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar CPO has written a letter to all the deputy inspector generals and heads of other units. 

The CPO noted that a letter was written on November 21 directing the police department to remain apolitical during the political tension, raising suspicion over reported use of tear gas during the protest.

“Details of the exact tear gas stock available and its usage during the last one week should be provided,” the CPO ordered.

The CPO said a team would physically verify the stock available in different units and regions.

“News have emerged on social and electronic media that allegedly tear gas has been used by protestors during current protest at Islamabad. Therefore, keeping in view the above, a team from office of the AIG/Logistics, CPO, Peshawar, would be deputed for physical verification of available stocks of tear gas with regions and different units vis-à-vis data of stocks being conveyed to CPO, Peshawar, by different regions/units on monthly basis,” it said.