Police have issued their account of the events that unfolded in Mirpur on July 28, 2026, rejecting claims that all those associated with the banned Awami Action Committee were unarmed civilians. According to police, some protesters were carrying sticks and firearms.
Police said they received multiple calls from residents reporting that armed individuals were forcing shopkeepers to shut their businesses and photographing those who refused to comply. A police contingent was dispatched to the scene, where, according to officials, a man in the procession opened fire on officers, prompting a retaliatory response.
Three people were injured in the exchange of fire. Police said the alleged shooter later died at the hospital. A pistol and spent bullet casings were recovered from his possession and the scene, and a case has been registered.
According to police, misleading claims were later circulated on social media suggesting that bodies had been left on the streets, while some individuals presented as injured were actually taken into custody.
Police further stated that reports were later received of roads being blocked in the Bunkhurma and Mian Muhammad Town areas. During the unrest, Punjab Police constables Ehtesham and Adnan, who were deployed for election duty, were allegedly taken hostage, and attempts were made to obtain information about other police personnel.
Officials said a group then moved toward Rehmat Palace Marquee, where Punjab Police personnel deployed for election duty were staying, and pelted the building with stones. Police responded by using tear gas to disperse the crowd.
According to police, officers also came under sustained gunfire from rooftops during the operation. An attempt was allegedly made to target a police inspector, but the bullet struck Constable Imran in the leg instead. Police said two passersby were also injured in the firing, although responsibility was later blamed on law enforcement.
Police added that Constable Imran’s statement was recorded at the hospital, in which he maintained that protesters opened fire first, leading to the subsequent police response.
Police claimed that miscreants often infiltrate protests to create unrest and disrupt public order. They maintained that the initial firing came from protesters and that police acted in accordance with the law.
Law enforcement authorities urged citizens to help maintain peace, avoid believing rumors, and immediately report any suspicious activity.
According to police, internet services have now been restored in Mirpur, all major roads and markets are open, and normal business activity has resumed across the city.
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