Government showed restraint during November 24 protest, says Ishaq Dar

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the government demonstrated considerable restraint during the November 24 protest.

According to a report by Samaa News on Wednesday, in a briefing for foreign diplomats at the Foreign Office in Islamabad, he clarified that law enforcement agencies were equipped only with water cannons, tear gas, and batons, and were not given live ammunition.

Dar further noted that the Army was deployed in accordance with constitutional provisions, serving as a third line of defense to safeguard the diplomatic community and key federal institutions, including the Parliament House, the Prime Minister’s House, and the Presidency.

He expressed concern over the utilization of resources from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for the protest, asserting that no federating unit has the authority to march on the capital.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to keeping the Red Zone free from protests and violence, mentioning that a special law was enacted earlier this year to protect diplomats.

He also remarked on the peculiar timing of the protest, occurring during the visit of foreign delegates to Pakistan.