Army clears PTV building, transmission resumes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army on Monday cleared hundreds of protesters from the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) building after they seized the building and cut transmissions.

Demonstrators stormed PTV building and occupied the building for around half an hour before being removed.

According to PTV administration, protesters vandalized valuable transmission equipment at the office and ransacked the central news room and master control room.

After the building had been cleared by the army, the state broadcaster was able to resume its transmission.

A contingent of the Pakistan Army arrived at the PTV building to control the situation after protesters occupied the building.

Pakistan Army, then, made announcements for calm and urged protesters to clear the building as per their leaders’ promise.

Protesters said they vacated the building in respect of the army. Afterwards, they gathered outside the building.

It may be mentioned that hundreds of protesters stormed the state broadcaster today morning as fresh clashes with police broke out in Islamabad.

Transmission of the PTV news channel was cut minutes after an anchor announced demonstrators had entered the building and "besieged" staff.

Protesters armed with rocks and wooden clubs earlier clashed with police, hours after the powerful army called for a peaceful settlement of the political crisis that has shaken the country for the past two weeks.

Rashid holds Imran, Qadri responsible

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid condemned the attack and termed it an act of aggression and violence. The information minister held Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri responsible for the attack.


PTI condemns attack

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) condemned the attack on the PTV building. The party termed the attack unacceptable and said no PTI workers had entered the PTV building. PTI leader Shireen Mazari called for the arrest of those individuals who attacked the PTV office.

PTI chairman Imran Khan tweeted his party had not attacked PTV

PTI did not attack PTV and we totally disown this action. It damages our cause. We have always been peaceful & unarmed.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 1, 2014

Qadri says PAT workers not involved

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri said his party workers were not involved in the attack; rather there were the ones who were removing the miscreants from the PTV building.