Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the Radio Pakistan Peshawar building was the place from where the world was told that the country had come into being.
Addressing a ceremony at Radio Pakistan Peshawar today, the PM said a heart-wrenching incident took place on May 9 and 10, adding that nations sacrificed their lives to defend their heritage.
“The archives here were torched and the record of over 100 years old destroyed,” the PM lamented.
He also said he had found out the Radio Pakistan employees had not been paid their salaries in May, and ordered that they be paid immediately.
“You will get the funds in 48 hours,” he announced.
“There is no difference between those behind the shameless attack on the building and anti-state elements. Even our long-lasting enemy could not think of such incidents,” PM Sharif stressed.
He said those who carried out these attacks will be punished according to the law and Constitution.
Earlier, speaking at the ceremony, Marriyum Aurangzeb said the PTV was attacked in 2014, and this time Radio Pakistan was attacked under a plan.
A large mob attacked Radio Pakistan with petrol and clubs, she said, adding the transmitters and other items will be replaced, but valuable assets like archives have been torched.
An FIR was filed in the case, the minister remarked, adding attempts were made to disturb the transmission on May 10 also.
She further said many people were injured and shifted to hospital while saving the building.
She also stressed that May 9 cannot be repeated and the culprits will be severely punished.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif touched down in Peshawar and visited the Radio Pakistan building.
The caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, the KP governor, federal ministers, including Ishaq Dar and Marriyum Aurangzeb, and other personalities were also present in the ceremony.
The PM received a briefing on the damage caused to the Radio Pakistan building, records and broadcasting during the attack on May 9.
The Radio Pakistan director general briefed Prime Minister Sharif and others.
The gathering was told that the Radio Pakistan broadcast was restored 26 hours after the attack. The attack damaged 100-year-old recordings and historical heritage, the briefing mentioned.
However, the radio’s Quran channel was not damaged at all.
The prime minister is likely to preside over an important meeting at the Peshawar Governor House.
He is also expected to inspect the building of Radio Pakistan that was vandalised and set on fire by miscreants on May 9 in protest against the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
The prime minister is scheduled to be briefed on the events of May 9 and the situation so far.
He will also issue important instructions on law and order and the security situation.
Earlier, the PM was scheduled to visit the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital on May 19, but it was later postponed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s scheduled visit to Peshawar for today has reportedly been postponed.
The prime minister was supposed to visit the damaged Radio Pakistan building and Fort Bala Hisar in the provincial capital.
The prime minister was scheduled to pay a visit to the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar, which was set ablaze in an attack on May 9.
During his visit, the premier was also supposed to receive a comprehensive briefing on the extent of the damage incurred on the building, as well as the ongoing restoration efforts.
Furthermore, he was to be updated on the status of the records and media housed within the building.
Published on: 10 May 2023
Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar confirmed that four people lost their lives and 27 injured in violent protests in across the provincial metropolis while hundreds of violent protesters have separately stormed and set Radio Pakistan Peshawar building on fire.
Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar spokesperson confirmed the news to media.
The assailants broke down the gate of the Radio Pakistan and entered the building.
The protesters reportedly wreaked havoc in the newsroom and various other sections of the radio station.
The violent protesters had attacked the Radio Pakistan building on Tuesday also.
During the attack again today, the protesters vandalized the property, attacked the staff and torched articles inside including portraits of founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The miscreants also set fire to the Chagai Yadgar and the radio auditorium. Important record and other material turned into ashes by the arson in various sections.
Vehicles parked in the building of Radio Pakistan were also set on fire, as the miscreants looted government property, including cameras, microphones and other office equipment and devices.
The protesters attacked the staff that tried to stop them. Staff members, including women, were also tortured.
The higher authorities have ordered the arrest of PTI leaders. Teams have been tasked with raiding the residences of PTI leaders Kamran Bangash, Fazal Elahi, Arbab Jahandad, Shaukat Ali.
Work has been started to analyse call records of the former MPs who called for violent protests this morning.
