Zaman Park operation: Cases registered against PTI leadership, workers

Three cases were registered on Sunday against the leadership and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for clashing with elite force and other police personnel and destroying official vehicles during the Zaman Park operation in Lahore.

The provisions included in the case include rioting, violence against the police, terrorism, attempted murder, robbery and snatching weapons.

First case

A case of assault was registered on the police team that went to Zaman Park to arrest the accused with a search warrant. The case has been registered in the Race Course police station on the complaint of Inspector Zulfiqar Ali, in which provisions including terrorism , illegal weapons, and attempted murder have been imposed.

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According to the first information report (FIR), senior leadership of PTI had invited armed persons from the area, and 13 police officers including a DSP were injured due to stone pelting by PTI workers.

Moreover, 102 workers were nominated in the case and 76 were arrested. The FIR also stated that eight rifles, hundreds of bullets and petrol bombs were recovered from PTI workers.

Second case

According to the police, the second case has been registered by Constable Shafiq who was reportedly a victim of violence by PTI workers. In the FIR, it is said that 40 PTI workers tortured him on his way back from duty.

Third case

Similarly, a third case has been registered against PTI workers for destroying a vehicle of the Elite Force officials pushing it into the canal.

All the cases have provisions of terrorism, attempted murder, dacoity, and the FIR states that the agitating activists also took away rifles, mobiles and bulletproof jackets from the police personnel.

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Meanwhile, DIG Operations Afzal Ahmed Kausar has said in an emergency press conference that incidents of violence against police officers and youths are condemnable and strict action will be taken against those who tortured Constable Shafiq and others in Zaman Park.

The DIG operations said that the attack on the state machinery is not acceptable in any way, adding that the law will take its course.

“Zaman Park is not a no-go area and no one should be mistaken,” he added.

DIG Operations furthered that ordinary citizens will also use the Zaman Park route and attacking any security personnel is an offense under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

“Indiscriminate action will be taken against those who break the law,” he maintained.

A day earlier, police had stormed into PTI chief's Zaman Park residence in Lahore, knocking down all barricades and doors to launch a ‘surprise’ search operation inside the property.