PTI-police clash leaves 14 injured in Quetta

QUETTA: Police on Friday cracked down on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters in Quetta as they attempted to hold a rally without permission.

The PTI had announced a public gathering at the Railway Hockey Ground on Friday, but the district administration had denied permission for the event. Despite this, the PTI supporters gathered near Edhi Chowk close to the ground. As they attempted to force their way in, according to police, they resorted to stone-throwing and gunfire. In response, the police fired tear gas, resulting in injuries to 14 people, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and eight other officers. Five individuals were arrested.

The clashes intensified when an enraged individual allegedly drove a vehicle into the police, injuring several officers and a journalist.

According to Dr Arbab Kamran, Director of Quetta Trauma Center, the injured included DSP Maqsood and officers Abdul Qadeer, Muhammad Waseem, Sanaullah, Izzatullah, Naqeebullah, Ata ul Mustafa, and Ataullah. Among the civilians admitted were Atiqullah, Sangeen, Ghulam Rabbani, Muhammad Essa, Abdul Jabbar and Abdul Khaliq, with three officers and four civilians sustaining gunshot wounds.

To disperse the crowd, the police used tear gas and baton charges, pushing PTI supporters toward Double Road. Later, near Railway Station Chowk, several PTI supporters, including women, delivered speeches in protest.

Quetta SSP Operations Muhammad Baloch reported that the police had intervened to prevent the unauthorised rally, leading to a violent response from the PTI supporters, who allegedly fired on police and attempted to run over officers with a vehicle.

Heavy police deployment was observed throughout Quetta, particularly in sensitive areas like Nasir Phatak, Kohla Phatak and Hockey Chowk, with roadblocks and containers set up on Zarghoon Road to restrict access to the rally site.