PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday touched down in Peshawar and visited the Radio Pakistan building, that was destroyed by charged mob of PTI workers.
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 Prime Minister 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.
Addressing 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.
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.
Read more: Plan to attack military installations originated from Zaman Park, geofencing records show
