Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry asserted on Wednesday that the man killed during a shootout with security forces on Rawalpindi’s Mall Road was an active worker of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He accused the party of fostering hatred and promoting violent political tactics among its members.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Chaudhry rejected the PTI’s denial of any connection with the deceased, emphasizing that the party cannot simply distance itself from the incident. The shooting occurred on Tuesday when an armed individual allegedly opened fire on a patrolling security team, injuring one officer before being fatally shot by security personnel.
Chaudhry claimed the deceased was carrying a PTI flag and that his social media activity confirmed his active involvement with the party. He criticized the PTI for encouraging politics rooted in hatred rather than peaceful protest, arguing that such an environment leads young people to express violence in various forms.
Addressing claims about the deceased’s mental health, the minister dismissed them, questioning why, if the individual was mentally unstable, he had not been removed from the party earlier or directed his aggression toward PTI members rather than security forces.
In a significant development, Chaudhry linked the roots of this violence to the unrest following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan on May 9, 2023. He accused PTI leaders of repeatedly inciting hatred in their speeches, which he said culminated in Tuesday’s shooting. He described the incident as a direct result of the party’s political “training” of its workers.
The minister also condemned Pakistanis living abroad who operate YouTube channels, alleging that some exploit political hatred for personal gain. He praised the injured security official for performing his duty amid the attack and questioned whether such violent acts could be considered legitimate politics.
Chaudhry emphasized that politics should focus on public service, performance, and delivering results, not on causing disorder or destruction. He pointed to the PTI’s planned protests on September 27 and suggested the recent incident might foreshadow further violence linked to the party’s rhetoric.
He further revealed that the deceased had previously attended important meetings with PTI leaders, questioning why no action was taken earlier if his mental condition was a concern. The minister stated the man carried the PTI flag during what he called his “last mission,” suggesting the party was undermining itself through such associations.
Chaudhry assured that the investigation into the shooting was ongoing, conducted fairly and thoroughly, with more evidence being examined before final conclusions are drawn. He concluded by stating that stability was returning to Pakistan.
The incident took place around 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, when Muhammad Hussain reportedly opened fire on a security patrol on Mall Road, injuring one officer before being killed by return fire. Police recovered a mobile phone, weapons, and a PTI flag from the suspect, which could offer further leads in the investigation.
While police initially mentioned the suspect’s affiliation with a “particular political party” without naming it, reports indicated he was a resident of Khyber district and an active PTI member. Footage showed a red-and-green cloth, a firearm, and bullets allegedly seized from him. However, authorities have not publicly disclosed detailed evidence linking him to the party.
The PTI vehemently denied any association with the shooter, reaffirming its commitment to peaceful political struggle and distancing itself from terrorism. PTI Islamabad regional president Amir Mughal called for transparency in the investigation and accused the government of attempting to tarnish the party’s image. Mughal highlighted the party’s electoral success in the February 8, 2024 general elections as evidence of public rejection of violence-linked portrayals.
The conflicting narratives have placed the deceased’s alleged political ties at the heart of the inquiry. The government maintains that his PTI affiliation reflects a broader issue of political radicalization, while the party insists that responsibility should not be assigned based on individual actions without concrete evidence.
Ultimately, the investigation’s outcome will be crucial to determining the nature of the deceased’s relationship with the PTI and whether his political activities were connected to the violent incident on Mall Road.
