The Rawalpindi police have completed all legal formalities to hand over the investigation of cases registered in the wake of the violent protests by the activists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on May 9, sparked by party Chairman and former premier Imran Khan’s arrest, to the Pakistan Army under the Army Act.
In the first phase, it has been decided to investigate the case of the attack on the General Headquarters under the Army Act. The Rawalpindi police have already set up a high-level investigation committee headed by the SSP Investigations to investigate cases of violent protests and damage to the military installations.
The case of the attack on GHQ was registered on the complaint of Police Sub-Inspector Malik Muhammad Riaz, under 10 provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code including Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. In this case, the police have nominated former law minister Raja Basharat and PTI activist Khalid Jadoon while 250 to 300 unidentified party workers are also involved in this case. The police have so far arrested six accused, including Haider Mehmood, Babar Ashraf, Zahid Ramzan, Khadim Hussain, Hamza Latif and Sher Sikandar.
A senior police officer told The Express Tribune, on condition of anonymity, that the police have completed all preparations to hand over the investigation of cases under the Army Act to the Pakistan Army.
Delving into details, the police officer said that the Rawalpindi police have registered a total of 18 cases against those who have been involved in carrying out vandalism, attacks on military installations, damage to government property and inflicting injuries to police personnel. So far 225 suspects have been arrested in these cases, he said.
The police officer said that initially it has been decided that the case of the attack on GHQ will be investigated under the Army Act. He explained that instead of registering a new case the provisions of the Army Act will be added to case number 708 of 2023 already registered in RA Bazar police station.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2023.
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