RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court declared Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri a proclaimed offender on Monday and issued his arrest warrants in a case of kidnapping and attacking policemen as well as arson at the Lillah motorway interchange during the party’s march from Lahore to hold a sit-in in Islamabad in August.

Judge Chaudhry Abdul Qayyum ordered release of 76 PAT workers against surety bonds of Rs100,000 each and rejected the bail applications of 10 accused.

The case was registered against the chief and 119 activists of the PAT under sections 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and 324, 365-B and 395 of the Pakistan Penal Code by Lillah police on charges of arson, dacoity and attacking, injuring and kidnapping policemen. The workers had gathered at the interchange and staged a demonstration on Dr Qadri’s call.

The workers allegedly injured 16 police officials, burnt a police van and set the Jauharabad police station on fire.

Published in Dawn December 16th , 2014