Sit-in violence: Three more cases against PAT, PTI workers

No arrests made as most accused are ‘secure’ at sit in venues.

ISLAMABAD: The Secretariat police on Saturday registered three separate cases against hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers for their alleged involvement in vandalism and attacking Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Asmatullah Junejo.

A senior police officer said that the FIRs were registered on three separate complainants filed by police operator Sajad Ali, police constable Ghulam Ali and NADRA driver Alam Sher. Over 100 PTI and PAT workers have been charged in the cases.

According to the police, FIRs have been registered under sections 7, 186, 148, 149 and 353. The first FIR has been registered on the complaint of Sajad Ali and some eyewitnesses, who said that at least 60 PTI and PAT workers attacked SSP Junejo on September 1, when he stopped them from entering PM House. The complainant said the protesters also snatched the SSP’s wristwatch and his official weapon.

The second FIR has been registered against 10 unidentified PAT workers for stealing a CCTV camera worth R400,000. The camera was among the units installed by the city administration for security purposes.

The third case was registered against 10 workers of both the parties on the complaint of NADRA driver Sher Alam, who said that he was kidnapped by protesters but released later.

Islamabad Police Spokesperson Naeem Iqbal confirmed that FIRs have been registered against several PTI and PAT workers, but he said no arrests could be made as majority of them were at the sit-in venue and it was difficult for the police to enter and arrest them.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2014.