Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has stated that the government exhibited complete patience during a recent protest by a political party on 24th November. Briefing foreign diplomats at the Foreign Office, he assured that law enforcement agencies were equipped only with water cannon, tear gas, and batons, and were not provided with live ammunition.
According to Radio Pakistan, Ishaq Dar emphasized that the Army was deployed in accordance with constitutional provisions, remaining in the third defense line to safeguard diplomatic personnel and federal institutions such as the Parliament House, the Prime Minister’s House, and the Presidency. He expressed regret over the use of resources by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in the protest, stressing that no federating unit holds the right to march on the capital.
Ishaq Dar further mentioned that maintaining the Red Zone as a protest-free and violence-free area has been a governmental priority. To this end, a special law was enacted
earlier this year to enhance the security of diplomats. He also noted the surprising pattern of this particular party opting to protest during visits by foreign delegates to Pakistan.