Police Struggle to Identify 89 'Highly Trained' Protesters in Islamabad

Authorities in Islamabad are facing challenges in identifying 89 suspects arrested during last week’s PTI protest, as their fingerprints and identities remain absent from any local database.

Unidentified Protesters Raise Alarms

• Ghost Protesters: Police officials describe these individuals as "ghosts" with no traceable records, raising concerns about their origins.
• DPO’s Concerns: Attock District Police Officer Dr. Sardar Ghias Gul Khan highlighted the risks posed by these unidentified and highly trained individuals entering Islamabad under the guise of protesters.

Highly Trained and Armed Individuals

• Advanced Capabilities: Described as “highly trained,” these suspects demonstrated remarkable skills, including navigating mountainous terrain at high speeds.
• Use of Advanced Weaponry: The individuals carried advanced weapons, Brazilian tear gas shells more potent than police-grade equipment, and utilized masks and communication systems to coordinate and evade authorities.

Clashes and Injuries

• Violence Escalates: During clashes at Attock’s Katti Pahari near the M-1 motorway, these suspects allegedly used petrol or chemical bombs, inflicting injuries on law enforcement personnel.
• Police Casualties: A Superintendent of Police (SP) suffered critical injuries, while a constable was shot in the leg.

Ongoing Investigations

• Police are working to determine the nationalities of these suspects and the nature of their involvement in the protests.
• The incident underscores the risks posed by unidentified, heavily armed individuals in politically volatile situations.

This development highlights growing concerns about the potential infiltration of trained elements into Pakistan’s political unrest, complicating the already tense security environment in the capital.