Army personnel were deployed to maintain law and order and strengthened security measures at key locations and all gates of the Secretariat to ensure comprehensive safety in the area, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Throughout the day, approximately 10,000 Ansar members gathered and encircled the secretariat, holding seven advisers of the interim government, along with other senior officials, hostage.
In an attempt to calm the agitated Ansar members, the Director General of Ansar and VDP arrived at the secretariat in the afternoon and agreed to all their demands.
However, despite this, the enraged Ansar members did not vacate the area; instead, they confined the Director General and attempted to breach gate no 3 of the secretariat, the ISPR statement added.
During this time, the agitated Ansar members launched an unprovoked attack on students present at the scene and hurled stones and bricks at the patrolling army personnel, even striking them with sticks.
Six army personnel were injured in the altercation, with one in critical condition.
Given the situation, the army personnel, despite repeatedly engaging with the Ansar members with patience, were forced to fire 27 warning shots into the air as the situation escalated.
Subsequently, additional army troops were deployed in the Secretariat area, effectively dispersing the Ansar members and bringing the situation under control.
Following the restoration of order, the seven advisers of the interim government, the DG of Ansar, senior law enforcement officials, and all other secretariat officials safely exited the area with the assistance of the army.
The deployed army personnel also detained a number of Ansar members who had infiltrated the secretariat and later sought refuge for safety, handing them over to the police.
