Imran Khan among 200 PTI workers, lawyers booked in connection with October 5 violence

In an important development, police in Lahore on Sunday registered FIRs against 200 PTI leaders, workers and lawyers, including the former prime minister and the party founder Imran Khan, under 18 different sections, including those related to terrorism, for taking to the streets on Saturday despite the imposition of Section 144 and resorting to violence against the police personnel, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

FIRs were registered against the lawyers affiliated with the PTI at Islampura police station of the city for scuffling with the police, while scores of party workers were nominated in the FIRs registered at Masti Gate police station, Hanjarwal police station and Millat Park police station.  

Besides Imran, others who were booked were Salman Akram Raja, MPA Raja Shehbaz, Hammad Azhar, Zameer Ahmad Chedo Advocate, Shabbir Gujjar, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema, Sheikh Imtiaz, Ali Imtiaz Warraich, Saeed Sindhu, Nadeem Abbas, Afzal Azeem Pahat, Ghulam Muhayuddin Dewan and scores of others.

In an FIR registered against Imran, it was alleged that the PTI founder incited the party leaders and workers against the state and ordered them to commit violence.

It was further stated that the PTI lawyers and workers created chaos by trying to thrust their ideology upon others at the behest of Imran.

PTI workers booked in Hafizabad

In Hafizabad too, cases were registered against the PTI workers for blocking roads and violating the MPO.

At the same time, police also rounded up 35 party workers and put them in lockups at several police stations.  

In view of the PTI’s planned sit-in at D-Chowk in Islamabad, security has been further tightened as additional contingents of the Pakistan Army are patrolling the Red Zone, Srinagar Highway and several other areas of the federal capital, while Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Nasir Rizvi has hinted at nominating Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in the FIR for leading the protestors to the city’s highly sensitive area.

Talking to the 24News TV channel, he has said, “No protestor should even think of coming to Islamabad. And anyone who does that will not be spared; no matter how high or mighty he may be.

The IGP has alleged that the KP Police personnel were also among the protestors.

He has also said that the protestors opened fire at the cops due to which 31 got injured, of whom one is in a serious condition.

Similarly, Rizvi has gone on to say, 75 jawans of the Punjab Police too were wounded. “It appeared that the miscreants were fighting against India.”

The IGP has refuted claims of the firing at the protestors, saying that the Force merely used teargas and restricted itself to making arrests. “As a matter of fact we exercised restraint and showed a lot of patience.”

However, Rizvi has made it clear that the capital police will not do the same every time it comes under attack. “Our patience is running thin,” he has said.

The top cop has informed so far 500 protestors have been taken into custody.

LEAs ordered to make arrests under Anti-Terrorism Act

On the other hand, the police have now been empowered to make arrests under the Anti-Terrorism Act while instructions have also been issued to the law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) to get tough with those taking the law into their own hands.

The law-enforcers have been ordered to baton-charge the protestors as well as teargas them.  

The army will remain deployed in the capital city until October 17 the day the SCO summit will be over.  

Yesterday there were reports on media that the KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur had been taken into police custody from KP House Islamabad for attacking the security forces, damaging government properties and misusing government resources.

Meanwhile, some sources denied reports that the CM had been arrested.

Earlier, Opposition Leader in NA Omar Ayub claimed that Gandapur had been arrested from the KP House, while KP Chief Minister’s adviser Barrister Saif claimed that Rangers had sealed the KP House.

Earlier, a court in Islamabad on Saturday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in the case of recovery of illegal arms and alcohol case and ordered the police to arrest him and produce him in the court at the next hearing.

Judicial Magistrate Mubashar Hussain Zaidi heard the case registered against him at Bara Kahu police station of the federal capital.

The judge said that the chief minister did not appear in the court despite being summoned several times.

Later the court adjourned the case’s hearing until October 12.

Reporters: Muhammad Owais, Waqas Ahmad and Mian Mazhar