PESHAWAR: The KP governm­e­­nt is seeking legal means for the rel­ease of its employees, including po­­li­ce personnel and rescuers, who were taken into custody during protests in Islamabad a couple of days ago.

Talking to Dawn, Adviser to CM on Information Barrister Muham­mad Ali Saif said they had formed legal teams to arrange bail for the detained employees, adding that there was no other recourse available to get them freed as FIRs had already been registered against them.

He said teams of lawyers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi had been tasked with securing bail for the detained employees and other PTI workers.

However, Mr Saif said he was not aware if any policeman was among those detained by the Islamabad police and added that the Home and Tribal Affairs Department (H&TAD) may have that information.

Official confirms rescue workers accompanying Gandapur were arrested, vehicles impounded

An H&TAD official said that the police department and Rescue 1122 could provide any details in this respect.

It may be recalled that Punjab police had arrested 41 personnel of Rescue 1122 and seized 17 of its vehicles, which accompanied the PTI procession led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur from Peshawar to Islamabad.

Sources told Dawn that over 40 vehicles of Rescue 1122, including ambulances, fire tenders and heavy machinery, accompanied the PTI procession on Friday that started from Peshawar and went to Islamabad for participating in the protest at D-Chowk.

They said that about 120 rescue personnel were also travelling with the convoy.

Rescue 1122 Director General Dr Mohammad Ayaz Khan confirmed the arrest of his department’s personnel and impounding of 17 vehicles. He did not give the number of the arrested employees.

In reply to a question, he said: “We will engage our lawyer at the department level for the release of the arrested officials.”

He said the Rescue 1122 personnel and vehicles were deputed to the PTI procession on the request of the provincial government.

On Sunday, IGP Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi told a presser in the federal capital that 878 protesters, including 120 Afghans and eight police officials of KP, were taken into custody.

In a significant development, the Interior Ministry on Sunday constituted a committee to probe the use of official resources and manpower by the KP government in the rally organised for the PTI sit-in at Islamabad.

The inquiry committee shall submit its finding in seven days.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2024