Peshawar police fired tear gas at PPP’s “Save the Province” rally

Peshawar: Police fired tear gas on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers during their “Save the Province” rally in Peshawar after protesters attempted to march toward the Chief Minister’s House.

Led by PPP Divisional President Umar Farooq Khan Hoti, the rally began in Mardan and reached Peshawar with a convoy of vehicles. Protesters carried banners and chanted slogans against corruption.

As demonstrators gathered outside the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, they tried to enter the Red Zone, prompting authorities to seal the area. In response, protesters blocked Assembly Chowk, disrupting traffic on Khyber Road in both directions.

According to police, some protesters broke through Red Zone barriers and clashed with security forces, pelting stones and setting fire to a PTI camp.

SSP Operations Masood Ahmed stated that the protest had official permission (NOC), but a few miscreants breached security and initiated violence. He added that CCTV footage would be used to identify those responsible.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the police action, saying the government was trying to suppress a peaceful protest to hide its corruption. He reaffirmed the PPP’s commitment to continue raising its voice against the “corrupt and incompetent” provincial government.