Court issues non-bailable arrest warrants for 12 PML-N leaders

A court in Lahore on Friday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for 12 leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) at the request of the police in the Punjab Assembly rioting case.

Police officials sought permission from the court to arrest Attaullah Tarar, Bilal Farooq Tarar, Saiful Malook Khokhar, Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Laghari, Mirza Jawed, Pir Khizer Hayat, Raja Sagheer Ahmed, Abdul Rauf, Pir Ashraf Rasool, Bilal Farooq, and Rana Mannan Khan.

Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Mudasir Hayat accepted the request and issued the required non-bailable arrest warrants.

Police officials said a case was registered against the 12 PML-N leaders for which they "deliberately did not appear" and said the arrests are sought for completion of the investigation.

The police raided Rana Mashood's house in Lahore, but Mashood was not found at home. Similarly, Khokhar Palace, the residence of Saiful Malook Khokhar in Johar Town, was also raided, but an arrest could not be made.

The police also raided the office of Mirza Javed in Raiwand to no avail.

Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had taken action against those involved in the May 25 violence during PTI’s long march.

At least 12 SHOs, allegedly involved in violence against PTI workers during the long march, were also earlier changed.

After the change of leadership in Punjab, the new government also started proceedings against the leaders of the previous provincial government, changing the course of the cases registered against PTI officials.