CNICs of 18 PTI leaders blocked

Govt includes Murad Saeed, Hammad Azhar in list

ISLAMABAD:

 

The government has blocked the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) of 18 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including former ministers Hammad Azhar and Murad Saeed.

The party leaders are currently facing charges in various cases following the May 9 riots. The list also includes Ali Amin Gandapur, Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, Malik Karamat Khokhar, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Zubair Khan Niazi, Malik Nadeem Abbas and Ghulam Mohiuddin Dewan.

Authorities said the CNICs were blocked at the request of police and would remain blocked till the investigation concludes.
The authorities added that the party leaders would be deprived of legal rights if they did not appear before the anti-terrorism court (ATC).

On Sunday, the PTI held its first-ever virtual public gathering on social media platforms. With what many alleged to be an “internet crackdown” targeting the power show, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan addressed an estimated one million concurrent users worldwide, spanning across Asia, Europe, and America.

The PTI chief unveiled the party's 150-page manifesto, promising extensive reforms in the judiciary, executive, police and policies for overseas Pakistanis.