Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday called for a transparent, impartial and judicial investigation into a firing incident in Rawalpindi, saying no political party or individual should be blamed before the facts are established.
In a statement, PTI said it condemned violence in all forms and maintained that anyone found to have violated the law should face legal action.
Speaking in Buner, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan described the party as a peaceful political organisation and rejected any association between its leadership or organisational wings and terrorism.
“Terrorism is a menace for the country and must be eliminated at all costs,” Gohar said.
He urged government officials and political leaders to refrain from speculation and irresponsible statements while the circumstances surrounding the incident remained under investigation.
The controversy followed a firing incident near Mall Road in Rawalpindi, where security forces shot and killed an armed man identified by security sources as Muhammad Hussain, a resident of Khyber district.
Security sources alleged that Hussain was an active PTI member and said a party flag, weapons, ammunition and documents were recovered from him. PTI has rejected attempts to attribute responsibility to the party without an investigation.
Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar also condemned the firing incident.
PTI maintained that responsibility should be assigned only on the basis of evidence established through a proper investigation, with anyone found responsible dealt with according to law.