120 Afghan Citizens Arrested During Islamabad Protests, Claims Pak Interior Minister

Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, has claimed that Afghan citizens were involved in the recent protests organised by supporters of Imran Khan in Islamabad, with 120 of them arrested so far.

However, officials from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have denied any Afghan involvement in the demonstrations.

During a press conference on Saturday, Naqvi revealed that over 100 Afghan nationals had been identified and detained over the past two days during the protests in the capital. He expressed surprise at their participation, stating, “If the protesters are our own people, why are Afghans among them?”

In response, Muhammad Ali Saif, Information Adviser for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, dismissed these allegations, describing them as “propaganda.” He stressed that only PTI workers had participated in the protests and labelled Naqvi’s press conference as baseless.

The protests, led by Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a senior PTI member, resulted in clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. Reports indicate that at least 80 police officers were injured during the confrontations.

The Interior Minister further alleged that protesters, under Gandapur’s leadership, had opened fire on police personnel during the unrest.