LAHORE: The Lahore police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the founding chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Imran Khan, 200 other leaders, workers and lawyers under sedition, terrorism and attempted murder charges.

Three other cases were lodged against hundreds of other PTI leaders and supporters with various police stations for defying Section 144 imposed by the Punjab government.

The action was initiated in wake of rallies the PTI leaders took out in Lahore on Saturday and Sunday.

The main FIR was lodged with the Islampura police station wherein the police nominated jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, party’s senior leaders including Hammad Azhar, Musarrat Cheema, Shabbir Gujjar, Ali Ahmad Warraich, Rana Zameer Ahmad Jhedu advocate, MPA Rana Shahbaz Ahmad and others who were nominated under the serious provisions of sedition, terrorism and attempted murder.

Police Inspector Anthony Victor alleged in the FIR that the PTI leaders nominated in the FIR had held meetings with party’s founder Imran Khan in the jail to create anarchy, law and order situation, and made hate speeches against the state institutions.

He alleged that Imran Khan incited these leaders from the jail to commit violence against the state, take law into their hands and attack the law enforcement agencies.

Anthony claimed that the PTI leaders allegedly raised anti-state slogans with their supporters and injured Constable Bilal in the process.

They were carrying sophisticated weapons, patrol bombs, bricks and clubs to attack police, he said, adding that Rana Zameer Ahmad Jhedu led a violent and charged mob of 200 lawyers and party workers and marched towards the PMG Chowk, instigating violence.

They raised the slogan ‘agar hemara Murshid Imran Khan nahi to Pakistan bhi nahi’, the complainant alleged.

He alleged in the FIR that the charged mob of lawyers and PTI workers also made announcements and threatened: “If Imran Khan was not released from the jail, we will wage a war against Pakistan.”

They blocked roads, spread terror in the vicinity, the FIR said, adding when the police officials warned the protestors to disperse as the Section 144 had been enforced, they attacked police deployed for security.

The PTI leaders, lawyers and workers pelted the police with stones, damaged official vehicles and threatened them with dire consequences.

In defence, police fired tear gas and arrested 16 violators from the spot, according to the complainant.

Another case was lodged against 20 PTI workers with the Hanjarwal police station for taking out illegal rallies, defying ban under Section 144.

Similarly, Millat Park police registered a case against PTI activists and supporters on identical charges.

According to some reports, most parts of the provincial capital returned to normalcy when the police removed barricades, containers and other obstacles from exit/entry points and major roads on Sunday.

However, police security remained on high alert in the city to thwart any possible attempt of violence by the PTI leaders and workers.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Police raided houses of a number of PTI leaders and activists on Sunday to arrest them ahead of countrywide shutter-down call by the party for Monday.

Police arrested Babar Javed Chaudhry of Gojra. All others, including former MPA Saeed Ahmad Saeedi, NA-106 PTI-backed candidate Khalid Nawaz Sadhraij, PP 121 PTI-backed defeated candidate Sardar Khawar Sher Gadhi and Toba tehsil president Rana Sarwar Babar were not present in their houses during raids.

Faisalabad police raided the house of MPA Sardar Nazar Latif Gujjar to arrest him but he was not present there.

Toba Correspondent Tariq Saeed also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2024