PTI leaders booked on terrorism charges after Faizabad protest

Protests erupted nationwide after ECP disqualified Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference

ISLAMABAD:

Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders were booked on terrorism charges by Islamabad's police in the wake of protests following former premier Imran Khan's disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The cases were registered against PTI leaders Senator Faisal Javed, Aamir Kayani, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Umer Tanveer Butt, Rashid Naeem Abbasi and Raja Majid.

Read 'Shameful': PTI reacts to Imran's disqualification in Toshakhana reference

The first information report registered against the party members claimed the protestors had pelted stones at the police and FC officials, leading to many injuries.

فیض آباد پر پی ٹی آئی کارکنان کا احتجاج۔۔ فیض آباد پر پولیس اور مظاہرین آمنے سامنے۔۔ مظاہرین کو منتشر کرنے کیلئے پولیس کی آنسوگیس کی شیلنگ pic.twitter.com/PiYHZEOFld

— SUMAIRA RAJA (@SUMAIRA__RAJA) October 21, 2022

It further stated that the workers of the former ruling party tried ramming police personnel with vehicles , set public property ablaze in Faizabad, and also damaged government property.

700 protestors booked

The capital's police also booked over 700 PTI workers on the charges of vandalism at the Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza.

The case against the party workers was registered at Chamkani police station after hundreds blocked the motorway and caused disturbances at the scene following Imran’s disqualification.

Read More PTI MNA, guard arrested as protests break out after Imran’s disqualification

The FIR listed interference in government work and damage to government property as two of the many reasons for registering a case against the protestors.

The protests continued throughout the day across the country till the party chief called them off in a video message released for his supporters on Friday evening, telling the workers to focus on the “long march” on Islamabad which would be the “largest protest movement” in the country.

Imran disqualified

ECP on Friday disqualified Imran Khan under Article 63(1)(p) as it announced its verdict in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference.

A four-member bench of the ECP declared Imran's National Assembly seat vacant as it unanimously decided that he had misled officials about the gifts he received from foreign dignitaries during his tenure as the prime minister.

The written ruling read that the PTI chief had “intentionally and deliberately” violated the provisions contained in sections 137, 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017 as he submitted a “false statement” and “incorrect declaration” to the ECP in the details of his assets and liabilities filed by him for the year 2020-21.

Also Read PTI decides to challenge Imran’s disqualification in IHC: sources

It added that the PTI chief had attracted disqualification under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution read with Sections 137 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017.

“Consequently he ceases to be a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and his seat has become vacant accordingly,” it read.

The ruling read as Imran had made false statements and an incorrect declaration, therefore he also committed the “offence of corrupt practices” defined under Sections 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, punishable under Section 174 of the Elections Act, 2017.

The commission ordered the initiation of criminal proceedings against the ex-premier for submitting a false statement under Section 190(2) of the Elections Act.