The main opposition parties are intensifying pressure on the government over the death of a 24-year-old Pakistani man shot by police, with DISY demanding clarity on unanswered questions while AKEL calls for the Justice Minister’s resignation.
DISY (Democratic Rally) has called for a thorough investigation into what it termed an “unprecedented case“, stating that any delay in providing answers “severely damages citizens’ sense of security”. However, the party stopped short of demanding Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis’s resignation.
AKEL MP Aristos Damianou launched a direct attack on Minister Hartsiotis, calling his stance “unacceptable”.
“After five days of contradictory statements, it emerges that this is a homicide resulting from police gunfire in Potamia”, Damianou said.
He also criticised the minister’s handling of multiple incidents during his tenure, including seven prison escapes and incidents of hooliganism.
The Democratic Front (DEPA) emphasised the need to protect the police force’s credibility while enhancing transparency, accountability, and operational effectiveness.
Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis defended the administration’s position, stating that “the President’s trust in the Justice Minister and police leadership remains solid and enhanced”.
He cautioned against drawing premature conclusions before the investigation‘s completion.
Minister Hartsiotis dismissed criticism of an alleged cover-up as “premature, unjustified, and entirely unsubstantiated”, while acknowledging deeper institutional problems within the police force than initially anticipated when he took office.
