Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized the government’s measured response to the November 24 protest by a political party, during a briefing to foreign diplomats at the Foreign Office in Islamabad.
Dar stated that the government showed “complete patience” in managing the situation, ensuring that law enforcement agencies were equipped only with water cannons, tear gas, and batons, while live ammunition was strictly avoided.
He clarified that the Army was deployed as per constitutional provisions, serving as a third line of defense to safeguard the diplomatic corps and key federal institutions, including the Parliament House, Prime Minister’s House, and Presidency.
Expressing concern, Dar criticized the use of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial resources to support the protest. “No federating unit has the right to march on the capital,” he remarked, highlighting the importance of upholding the constitutional framework.
The Deputy Prime Minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining peace in Islamabad’s Red Zone, emphasizing the enactment of a special law earlier this year to ensure the security of diplomats and prevent violence.
He concluded by expressing surprise over the timing of such protests, particularly when Pakistan hosts foreign delegates, suggesting that this pattern undermines the country’s image on the global stage.
