ISLAMABAD: The capital police registered a case against a member of the National Assembly (MNA) and workers of a political party under terrorism, attempted murder and other charges.

However, the police did not mention the name of the political party and the status of the MNA.

The FIR was registered at the Counter-Terrorism Department police station under ATA’s section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) and 11-X (responsibility for creating civil commotion) along with section 324 (attempt to commit qatl-i-amd), 395 (punishment for dacoity), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the PPC.

According to the FIR, a police contingent was deployed at Tarnol Chowk for law and order duty on August 22. At around 4:30pm, 50 to 60 people armed with batons, iron rods and stones riding on three vehicles and a truck appeared there and chanted slogans against government institutions.

The occupants of the vehicles provoked the public against the police and the administration while brandishing weapons and blocked G.T. Road, the FIR said, adding they also forced shopkeepers to close their businesses.

They were asked to disperse as section 144 had been imposed in the capital. However, they started pelting the police with stones and opened straight firing with intention to kill the officials, the FIR alleged.

“Fortunately, the police and passersby remained unhurt from the firing,” it said, adding they also spread fear and caused disturbance in the movement of people besides snatching two anti-riot kits form the police.

The persons nominated in the FIR were led by Arbab Amir Ayub and Malik Shahab Hussain and local leadership of the party. The local leadership included Raja Najam, Qazi Tanveer, Ikhlaq Abbasi, Abid, Raja Faisal, Babu Zamir Gul along with 30 to 40 unidentified people.

Later, they escaped from the spot leaving behind a Toyota Corolla. The police recovered five pistols and ammunition from the car during search.

The police also recovered 38 bullet shells from the spot, it said, adding that SHO Tarnol Shabbir Tanoli, constables Imran Ahmed, Shabbir Nawaz, Ahsan Farooq, Nauman Khan, Tauqeer Bilal and Saqib were injured by the suspects.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2024