The Punjab government has decided to purchase 150,000 new tear gas shells to manage violent protests in various districts, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and others. According to police sources, the purchase will be overseen by the logistics branch of the Punjab Inspector General (IG), with a budget allocation of Rs. 10 million for the procurement.
The decision follows a growing need for tear gas shells, as officials from Lahore, Rawalpindi, Attock, Gujranwala, and other districts requested additional supplies. The move comes after the depletion of existing stock during the two-year-long protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), particularly during protests in Rawalpindi.
Earlier, PTI protesters, responding to a call from party leader Imran Khan, clashed with police, turning Rawalpindi into a battleground. The use of tear gas throughout the day caused significant distress to local residents, with canisters falling into homes and affecting women and children caught in the chaos. Media personnel covering the protests were also caught in the crossfire, facing the brunt of police efforts to disperse the crowds.
In addition, a recent incident saw the PTI convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur heading towards Islamabad’s D-Chowk, where police intensified tear gas shelling near Rawalpindi. The situation escalated at Chungi No. 26, where PTI supporters set a crane and a motorcycle on fire in response to the police action.
The procurement process is expected to be completed soon, with the tear gas shells distributed to the relevant districts to ensure better management of any future unrest.
