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By Asim Qadeer Rana
Islamabad, Dec 25: Pakistan federal state agencies are probing the usage of over 10 satellite phones used during Imran Khan led political party’s recent sit-in on November 25 in Red Zone area of capital city, PrideNews has learnt reliably.
The Pakistan-Tehreek-Insaf (PTI), on November 25 has initiated a protest led by Imran Khan’s burqa-clad wife Bushra Bibi, and sitting Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur.
The protest was also referred as the “final call” or “do-or-die” protest. The protesters demanded Khan’s release, an end to the younger Sharif government’s “unjust arrests,” and a reversal of the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, which they claimed infringed on rights of citizens.
Later, the protest was officially suspended by the PTI following the government’s crackdown.
However, as soon as the country’s lead agencies picked up few satellite phone calls on Nov 25, 2024, evening, “an on ground geo-fencing led to identification of usage of over 10 satellite phone calls (hand-sets) which the state agencies are rigorously investigating to this date.”
“It was that time which prompted secuirty agencies to ensure the protest is abandoned peacefully or by the use of baton charge as written in the law meant to quell such riots disturbing public safety, and halting free movement of citizens,” insisted a senior government functionary wishing not to be named,while speaking to PrideNews here on Saturday.
“A tactical team observing the on ground situation indicated these satellite calls to top hierarchy of the State, forcing the sensitive state institutions to act in quickest possible time to end the protest movement, and avert any possible large scale human loss, and gross security lapse bringing embarrassment for the country’s security establishment,” informed the official.
Asked about the calls being made to which destinations, and whether those telephone numbers were identified, the official noted: “These satellite phones were not registered in Pakistan, and calls were being made to Afghanistan while callers were taking guidelines from the miscreants present within the rioters.”
“Calls were also originating from few other states (countries not named),” informed the official.
The official maintained: “The records of all calls were being evaluated, and a response team took safety measures averting a large scale public disaster which could even damaged key state properties including the on ground present Rangers reserve force personals office, Police, and state agency’s offices within the Federal Secretariat, key buildings in same secretariat vicinity.”
He said that main target of the international callers “was reaching the office of President, and the Prime Minister before 4:00 of the morning time, creating a hybrid Indonesian, and Bangladesh style student, and civil coup in Pakistan.”
Indonesian President Suharto witnessed a coup from students in 1998, forcing his exit while Bangladesh also witnessed a similar student led coup this year forcing outgoing former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Ms.Haseena to fly out from country, and take refuge in neighbouring India.
“Coded messages were shared, and encrypted text messages were sent across multiple online forums, and servers located in few western countries including Afghanistan and others (no country mentioned),” maintained the official.
The official noted: “Later by the morning of Nov 26 the homework of agencies was complete and after thorough investigation completing legal formalities records were given to Islamabad Police for action on ground, and hundreds of protestors were arrested even as away as eight kilometre radius of the protest site in Blue Area and arrests were made even of handlers pushing the protest to be more violent on telephone, and other social media platforms.”
Meanwhile, a PTI leader while speaking to PrideNews insisted: “Our protest was completely peaceful for God sake don’t push us to wall if thier were miscreants or such calls were made the State has complete right to act as per law and PTI has no issues on that at all.”
“We are in negotiations with government and hopeful for a positive outcome which could be better for State,” noted the key PTI leader.
“We completely decline such calls were being made by any of our party leaders or political workers, and if there were such miscreant activity of criminal elements federal government is at complete liberty to act according to law,” asserted the PTI party leaders.
About the Writer:
The Writer is Editor of PrideNews, writing on strategic international, and local political issues. He can be reached through email:
ranaasim15@gmail.com
ENDS.
