50 PTI workers arrested in Rawalpindi

Police say arrests made for 15 days to maintain public order

RAWALPINDI:

More than 50 people were arrested by the Rawalpindi police as a result of a crackdown against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s leaders, workers and supporters to quell the law and order situation that resulted from the police raid on Zaman Park to arrest party head, Imran Khan.

Sources said over 50 people have been arrested so far and imprisoned for 15 days in different police stations of the garrison city under section 3 of The Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960

According to details, the PTI supporters in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Lahore responded strongly when police from those cities raided the Lahore residence of the former prime minister.

The protesters blocked the highways at Taxila, Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk, Waris Khan, Katchehri Chowk, and other areas of Rawalpindi while violent skirmishes between the police and the protestors continue till late at night.

The police also began a crackdown to arrest PTI workers and leaders late at night.

Sources said the party leaders and workers were rounded up from Rawalpindi and its suburbs and transported to different police stations, including Waris Khan, Ganj Mandi, Cantt, Westridge, and Gujar Khan.

Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Khalid Mehmood Hamdani said: “51 people have been detained and imprisoned under section 3 of MPO to maintain peace and order.”

The CPO further said that the individuals were taken into custody from different locations including Newtown, Sadiqabad, Rata Amaral, RA Bazar, Wah Cantt, Race Course, Waris Khan, Saddar Wah, Westridge, Bani and Ganj Mandi.

The Central Jail Adiala will house all of the arrested individuals for 15 days, he added.

Hamdani warned that violating the law, committing vandalism, attacking police, and blocking roads while protesting was not permissible. “There won't be any compromise on the rule of law or the protection of citizens' lives and property,” he maintained.

Two cases registered

Meanwhile, the City and Waris Khan police booked former deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, former MNA, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq and former MPA including 22 nominated leaders and 60 unidentified party workers in two separate cases.

The cases were registered for protesting against the possible arrest of the PTI chief, rioting, attacking the police, injuring the personnel and blocking Murree road.

According to sources, PTI officials and workers demonstrated across Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and the rest of the country.

The Murree Road turned into a battleground until late at night due to their vehement protests, which included blocking the main highway.

The case registered in the City police station has been registered on the complaint of Hasnain Raza, a police officer deputed on security duty.

Former deputy speaker Punjab Assembly Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Former MPA Ijaz Khan Jazi, Asif Mehmood, Umar Tanveer Butt, PTI General Secretary Sajid Satti, president youth wing Saba Qureshi, PTI social media coordinator Haseeb Naqvi, Adeel Naqvi and 14 other leaders have been named in the FIR with 30 unidentified suspects.

PTI minority leader Samuel alias Bilour has also been nominated in the case. It has been stated in the case that the PTI workers, armed with sticks, slingshots etc., reached Liaquat Bagh Chowk at the behest of their leadership.

The protesters blocked Murree Road by burning tyres and when they were stopped, they attacked the police officers and personnel with sticks and stones and interfered with the discharge of official duty.

On the other hand, a case was registered in the Waris Khan police station under the provisions of blocking the road by protests, pelting stones at the police, rioting and damaging public property and injuring two policemen named Aamir and Manzam in which eight party leaders including former MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, ex-MPA Ijaz Khan Jazi, Wasiq Qayyum, Asif Mahmood, Saba Qureshi have been nominated while 30 workers are unidentified.

The police continued their crackdown on PTI workers and leaders for making further arrests till late at night.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2023.