No crackdown against PTI, PAT workers: Government spokesman

ISLAMABAD: A spokesman for the government has announced that a crackdown against protesting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers is not being considered.

The spokesman said that IGP Islamabad had requested a leave which was accepted on Thursday morning.

The clarification came after leadership of the PTI and PAT said a crackdown was planned after IGP Islamabad Aftab Ahmed Cheema was removed from his post.

The PTI said it had called off talks with the government due to the imminent crackdown and party chairman Imran Khan warned the new IGP that he would not spare him if force was used.

PAT chief Tahirul Qadri was also critical of the decision to remove the IGP stating that it was made because Cheema refused to use force against protestors.