Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said that PTI was spreading fake news and false propaganda to hide its failed attempt of disrupting peace in the Federal Capital, and sabotage the national economy.

Talking to media in Islamabad on Sunday, he said the party was hell-bent to practice politics of corpses to achieve its vested political interests. He also rejected PTI’s claim that officials of Law Enforcement Agencies opened straight firing on the protesters. He said the law enforcers were there to maintain peace and order, and did not have any live ammunition.

The minister said, on the contrary, there were hardened criminals and trained people-led by PTI leader Murad Saeed amongst protesters. He said they martyred officials of the Pakistan Rangers and the Police. He said it was an illegal protest as the Islamabad High Court had not allowed this. He said this march on Islamabad inflicted a loss of 192 billion rupees daily on the national economy.

Attaullah Tarar said they were making false propaganda as they had failed to present any video evidence to prove their claim that the Law Enforcement Agencies used live ammunition against the protesters.

The minister said the protestors opened indiscriminate firing, targeting the officials of the law enforcement agencies as a result of which 192 law enforcers have been injured. He said it was responsibility of the government to establish and maintain writ of the state, and protect lives and properties of the citizens.

He also presented salute to the honorable people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for rejecting the call to create unrest and chaos in the country.

Answering a question, the minister said identification of miscreants was continuing and the culprits should be given exemplary punishment. He said the Constitution fully elaborates that any protest should be peaceful. He said the government had submitted a report in light of the orders of the Islamabad High Court.

Replying to another question, he said the government fully believed in independence of the media. He said the government, in consultation with the media organizations and relevant stakeholders, was working on introducing a law pertaining to the digital media.

On the occasion, a video, showing PTI protesters, assaulting the law enforcement agencies with guns, batons, stones and sling shots, was also played.