Addressing a news conference, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari confirmed that a policeman has lost his life and 70 police officials injured during PTI’s ‘violent’ protest. She further said that five injured policemen are in a critical condition.

Azam Bokhari alleged that the members of PTI’s youth force, who came from other cities, carried out violence.

She further stated that the police officials were assaulted in a manner reminiscent of tactics employed by extremist organisations, such as the Taliban.

She added that state always demonstrates patience and tolerance but demonstrators are escalating the situation. She emphasised that despite having force, state avoids employing brazen tactics to foil  onslaught  protest. The protesters’ activities are challenging the state continuously.

Taking PTI to task, Punjab Information Minister Bokhari said that PTI wanted to repeat the episode of May 9 riots, adding that party wanted to have corpses to resuscitate its politics.

Azma Bokhari took a jab at Bushra Bibi, saying that we welcome former first lady in politics and now she is no longer a housewife. This is the new turn in politics, now we will confront Bushra Bibi openly.

Punjab Information Minister said that it was regrettable that PTI had been continuously striving to provoke state institutions.  She urged the general public to be calm and stay away from participating in any violent activity.

“Government will not make compromise on rule of law at any cost,” she expressed the resolve, adding that those who are trying to sabotage law and order will face the music.

Earlier, PTI convoy entered Punjab to reach its destination to release party founder Imran Khan. The former first lady, Bushra Bibi, addressed the protestors near Hazara Interchange. Bushra Bibi expressed her commitment to reach the destination with caravan and urged them to move forward swiftly.