Red Zone violence: IHC orders suspension of FIRs filed against police officials

Three people were killed and over 200, including women and children and policemen, were wounded in the incident

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court on Thursday ordered suspension of FIRs filed against police officials for use of violence in Red Zone during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) protests on August 30, Express News reported Thursday. 

FIRs, filed by PTI and PAT, include names of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, federal ministers, former inspector general (IG) of the Islamabad Police Khalid Khattak, the Punjab IG, the Railways IG, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Mujhaid Sherdil and a former Islamabad Operations SSP.

The FIRs were registered after an additional district and sessions judge issued directives on a petition filed by PTI seeking criminal cases against them.

IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz, after hearing arguments of police officials who challenged the FIRs today, ordered concerned authorities to suspend these FIRs.

The court is yet to announce a date for the next hearing when the issue will be discussed further.

At least three people were killed and over 200, including women and children and policemen, were wounded when police fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets to halt the march of the two parties towards the Prime Minister House.