Capital police claim Judicial Complex riots ‘deliberate, planned’

Islamabad police on Friday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s riots and vandalism outside the Federal Judicial Complex were ‘deliberate and planned’.

Last week, intense clashes had broken out between the police and the activists belonging to the PTI after party chief Imran Khan’s convoy reached the judicial complex ahead of his appearance before the district and sessions court in the Toshakhana case.

According to a spokesperson for the Islamabad police, 63 officers and police personnel were injured while providing security to the judicial complex and court staff.

He named PTI leader Shibli Faraz as the accused in the case, adding that his role would be determined by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the matter.

He furthered that the court transfer from F-8 Katchehry to the judicial complex was implemented at the demand of Shibli Faraz and his party.

The police spokesperson maintained that law enforcement personnel were shelled, the PTI protesters threw petrol bombs and the protestors “deliberately vandalised” and set fire to the judicial complex with a “plan”.

The spokesperson further said that 369 people involved in the riots were arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2023.