Process initiated to declare 16 PTI leaders POs

Court directs prosecution to publish a proclamation in newspapers for suspects' appearance

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday started the process to declare 16 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers, including Mian Aslam Iqbal, Farrukh Habib, and Zubair Niazi, proclaimed offenders in two cases related to May 9 violence.

The court directed the prosecution to publish a proclamation in the newspapers for the appearance of the suspects.

Meanwhile, police arrested PTI Rawalpindi leader Col (retd) Ajmal Sabir for his alleged involvement in the May 9 riots. The police will produce him before a local court on Thursday (today) and seek his physical remand.

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Judge Abher Gul Khan of the ATC on Wednesday initiated the process under Section 87 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on an application filed by the police.

The investigation officer of Sarwar Road police had filed an application seeking to initiate the process to declare the accused proclaimed offenders for not joining the investigation and judicial proceedings.

He submitted that the suspects had not surrendered before the court despite the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants.

The Sarwar Road police had registered two cases against the PTI leaders and workers over torching police vehicles at Rahat Bakery chowk and provocative speeches during May 9 violence.

With input from APP