198 PTI workers held for rioting

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad police have arrested 198 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers for their alleged involvement in vandalism, attack on police and damaging property during the hearing of Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case on March 18.

A spokesperson for Islamabad police said that raids were being conducted to arrest all those who were involved in violent activities and chaos. He said that Islamabad police did not arrest any child below 10 years of age. “A smear campaign is being launched on social media against the Islamabad police and other law enforcement agencies,” the spokesman said adding that the process of identification of all the accused involved in violence was under way with the help of cameras. Islamabad police have registered cases at the CTD and Golra police stations following rioting that left 58 policemen injured.

During the rioting, four police vehicles and 25 motorbikes were burnt while nine vehicles were vandalised.

The police spokespersons said that all miscreants involved in violent acts will be brought to justice. The police were performing their duties within the ambit of the law, he said adding that hateful propaganda is being spread to prevent police officers from their legal duty. Law is equal for all and there would be no discrimination against anyone, the spokesman said and appealed to parents to keep their young children away from violence.

Meanwhile, a preliminary report of the financial losses caused by rioting by PTI workers during the court appearance of Imran Khan has been compiled.

Sources said that although Imran Khan did not appear before the judge, his journey to the judicial complex cost federal police over Rs.21.8 million.

Police sources told The Express Tribune that the Islamabad police have prepared a preliminary report of financial losses caused by PTI workers, which will be submitted to the interior ministry today (Tuesday).

Police sources said that during the appearance of Imran Khan, police vehicles worth over Rs10.5 million were broken and set on fire while Rs0.8 million were spent on food for security personnel.

Similarly, the containers brought for security cost the Islamabad police Rs1.8 million, while windshields of three buses of Faisalabad and Chakwal police were broken by rioters which cost more than Rs0.50 million.

Islamabad police spent Rs1 million on fuel for buses and other vehicles and cranes. Similarly, Islamabad police had to use shells worth Rs70,000 to disperse the protesters.

Police sources further said the expenses incurred on the treatment of police officers and personnel who were injured have not yet been included in the expenses and a separate report was being prepared.

Police plan crackdown on
PTI leaders

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi police have thrashed out a major crackdown on PTI leaders and workers.

Sources said that in the first round, homes and political offices of PTI leaders will be raided. The Special Branch will assist the police in arresting the PTI leaders and workers. Those who have not been booked will be detained in jail under the MPO.

A senior police officer said that the Punjab government has given a green signal to the Rawalpindi police to immediately arrest PTI leaders and activists.

The police officer said that in the first phase, raids will be conducted to arrest former Federal Minister Ghulam Sarwar, Punjab Assembly former deputy speaker Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, former provincial ministers Raja Basharat, Fayyaz Chauhan, former MPA Umar Tanveer Butt, Javed Kausar and Amar Siddique. People close to the leaders can also be detained to get information about the presence of PTI leaders.

The police officer said that eight different teams have been formed for the crackdown.

According to initial reports, PTI leaders have gone into hiding to avoid arrests. Several leaders have also blocked their mobile numbers.

The police officer said that the CCTV footage of March 18 will be used to detain the activists and leaders.

The police officer said that all those against whom cases have been registered will be transferred to the respective police stations for further investigation while those against whom cases were not registered will be booked under 3 MPO and detained in Adiala jail

Court orders release of PTI workers from jail

Meanwhile, Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench judge Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz declared the arrest of 125 PTI workers in Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Attock null and void and ordered their immediate release from jail.

The court declared that peaceful protest was the right of every citizen, political party and worker which cannot be denied. However, vandalism cannot be allowed during the protest, the court said.

Petitioners’ lawyers Shaukat Rauf Siddiqui, Zahid Anwar and Haroon Janjua pleaded that all the protests were peaceful during which no vandalism took place.

The police retaliated by arresting the activists from their homes and deputy commissioners detained them for a month under government pressure, they said.

The court quashed the detention orders of deputy commissioners of the three districts and rejected the plea of the Additional Advocate General to uphold the detention orders. The court ordered the immediate release of all detained PTI workers.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2023.