LAHORE: Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has advised the government to handle the Faizabad sit-in peacefully and avoid violence, said Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday.
DG ISPR said that the COAS Bajwa called prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and suggested him to handle Islamabad sit-in peacefully and avoid violence from both sides “as it is not in national interest and cohesion.”
Related: Islamabad sit-in: Security forces launch massive operation to disperse protesters
COAS telephoned PM.Suggested to handle Isb Dharna peacefully avoiding violence from both sides as it is not in national interest & cohesion.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 25, 2017
An operation to clear Faizabad interchange from protesters started on Saturday after the capital was paralysed due to the sit-in which has been ongoing for almost three weeks.
Police have surrounded the protesters from all sides and are firing teargas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. In response, the protesters are throwing stones at the security forces.
As per the reports, a policeman was also martyred during clashes with protesters and 170 people were injured.
Police said the deceased suffered a deadly blow to the head in I-8/4 as protesters pelted stones at security officials during the operation.
