PTI, TLP leaders, workers booked for Oct 18 protests

Police have registered two cases against the leaders and workers of political and religious parties for staging protests in violation of Section 144 and causing unrest and arson at Saddar Chowk and Regal Chowk last week. At least 30 political workers are already in police custody.

Preedy police registered a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers on the complaint of Inspector Mahmood Ahmed under Section 188 and 34.

The Sindh government had imposed a ban on all types of protests, gatherings, processions, and rallies on October 18 and 19, but PTI leaders Haleem Adil Sheikh, Raja Azhar, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Faheem Khan, Adeel Ahmed, Advocate Zahoor Mehsud, Advocate Shujaat Ali Khan, Fauzia Siddiqui, Advocate Nazar Mehsud, Anwar Kamal, Shazia Jaffrani, Shehnaz Marwat, Ataullah, Saeed Afridi, Arsalan Khalid, Khurram Sher Zaman, Sajjad Soomro, Ameer Hamza, and 400 to 500 others defied the ban to stage a rally.

Meanwhile another case was registered against the leaders, officials, and workers of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Muhammad Nazir under Sections 147, 148, 149, 186, 188, 353, 337 A1, and 427 for violating the government ban on protest.

The complainant stated that 300 to 400 members of a religious party, armed with sticks and batons, attacked police, throwing stones at police vehicles in Regal Chowk. Police used tear gas in self-defence, but the suspects threw stones, breaking the windscreen and side glass of a police vehicle and causing damage to other government vehicles as well. Several police officials, including female personnel, were injured.