Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar on Saturday rejected allegations by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that the provincial administration was responsible for the murder of party worker Ali Bilal, saying the death was ‘accident case’ and ‘unfortunately misinterpreted’. The PTI had claimed that party worker Ali Bilal died of police violence and torture after personnel launched a crackdown on party workers and supporters protesting near PTI chief Imran Khan's Zaman Town residence. Naqvi stated that his administration was not involved in the incident and that the PTI should refrain from levelling “baseless allegations”. Naqvi categorically denied claims of instructing the Punjab police to act against PTI workers and added that the Punjab IGP would personally visit Ali Bilal’s father and the Punjab government would provide financial assistance to the victim’s heirs. Naqvi deplored former health minister and PTI leader Yasmin Rashid's press conference which targeted police and the administration despite knowing the "facts of the event".

Source: The Express Tribune March 11, 2023 08:18 UTC