ISLAMABAD: The government has spent Rs2.7 billion over the past 18 months to deal with sit-ins and protests of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
According to data obtained from police and other sources, approximately Rs1.2 billion was spent on handling PTI protests in the last six months alone. The protests led to damages to public and private property costing Rs1.5 billion.
According to the data, the PTI held 120 demonstrations, large and small, across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad during this period.
The PTI protests and subsequent clashes resulted in the deaths of four security personnel and injuries to over 220 others.
The government also paid Rs800 million to owners of 3,000 rented containers used for security purposes.
The PTI held major protests in Rawalpindi, Attock, Lahore and Islamabad where over 30,000 security personnel were deployed each time to maintain the law and order.
During these protest, 370 Safe City cameras worth Rs280 million were damaged in Islamabad, Lahore, and Rawalpindi while more than 220 police vehicles were also targeted. Over Rs900 million was spent on transport for security personnel, the data shows.
A staggering Rs1.5 billion was allocated to provide food and transport to police personnel.
Some 12,000 Islamabad police and 16,000 Punjab police officers were deployed on duty during these protests, while Rs300 million was spent on deployment of FC, Rangers and military personnel.
Government sources estimated that the PTI’s November 24 protest alone could cost more than Rs300 million, with a request already made for 34,000 security personnel.
Over 2,000 containers have already been brought to Rawalpindi and Islamabad to deal with the PTI’s November 24 protest.
Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the government to form a committee to hold talks with the PTI leadership to sort out the issue related to the party’s planned protest rally the capital on November 24.
IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued the written order, stating that it would be appropriate for the government to form the committee under the supervision of the interior minister or another senior official to initiate talks with PTI leadership, keeping in view the upcoming visit of the Belarusian president.