Clashing with police: Five PTI workers sent on judicial remand

Protesters were arrested late Monday night on various charges.

ISLAMABAD: A case has been registered against five Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers for allegedly attacking police personnel near the Supreme Court late Monday night.

The Secretariat police arrested five people and produced them in a court on Tuesday after which they were sent on a judicial remand.

The workers were booked under various sections, including violation of Section 144, interference in discharging official duties and attacking policemen.

PTI workers were leaving the sit-in venue in small groups on Monday night when a clash erupted between them and the police, after which police resorted to a baton charge. PTI chief Imran Khan had left for Bani Gala before the clashes started.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa minister Ali Amin Gandapur then made announcements on loud speakers directing party workers to come back to the protest venue and remain calm and peaceful.

He also condemned policemen for subjecting party workers to a baton charge.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Rizwan Ali, a PTI spokesperson, said workers were going back home late night when police personnel thrashed them near the Supreme Court.

“We have requested the police to stop victimisation of our workers. Police is a state institution and should not work for the Sharif brothers and should rather ensure security and protection of those participating in the sit-ins,” he said.

When contacted, Investigation Officer ASI Qurban Ali did not share any information and expressed unawareness about the clash.

The clashes between police and PTI and PAT workers have become a routine affair. Last week, the police in a crackdown throughout twin cities, arrested over 600 people, most of them innocent citizens. The arrested persons included PTI leaders Azam Swati and Shibli Faraz.

They were sent on judicial remand by a magistrate after which a high number of PTI leaders and workers reached the lower courts to release the arrested persons.

However, the detained workers were released after the orders of the Islamabad High Court chief justice.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2014.