Attack on state buildings: ATC issues arrest warrants for Imran, Qadri
Qureshi, Sheikh Rashid also face arrest.
ISLAMABAD:
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and others for attacking the Pakistan Television (PTV) building and Parliament House in August.
ATC Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi issued the warrants in response to two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the Secretariat police against Imran Khan, Tahirul Qadri, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Saifullah Niazi, Dr Raheeq Abbasi, Asad Umar and others.
The attacks took place on August 31 when PAT and PTI workers marched towards the Prime Minister House and the police were ordered to thwart their march. Subsequent clashes between the protesters and law enforcers resulted in the deaths of three PAT workers. Hundreds others, including both demonstrators and policemen, were wounded.
The FIR was registered on a complaint by Secretariat Police Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Mehboob Ahmed. The complainant in his application said the protesters attacked the government building after snatching weapons from policemen. The main case is pending before the ATC where police had sought their physical custody.
A senior police official told The Express Tribune that police will arrest them and will produce them before the court. The official said Qadri is likely to land at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal airport on November 16. “That is when he’ll be arrested,” he said.
On October 21, PAT called off its Inquilab sit-in after a record 67 days. Currently Qadri is in Canada and will come back to Pakistan on November 16. PTI, meanwhile, is still moving forward with its Azadi march sit-in almost 92 days after party chief Imran Khan announced it.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2014.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and others for attacking the Pakistan Television (PTV) building and Parliament House in August.
ATC Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi issued the warrants in response to two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the Secretariat police against Imran Khan, Tahirul Qadri, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Saifullah Niazi, Dr Raheeq Abbasi, Asad Umar and others.
The attacks took place on August 31 when PAT and PTI workers marched towards the Prime Minister House and the police were ordered to thwart their march. Subsequent clashes between the protesters and law enforcers resulted in the deaths of three PAT workers. Hundreds others, including both demonstrators and policemen, were wounded.
The FIR was registered on a complaint by Secretariat Police Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Mehboob Ahmed. The complainant in his application said the protesters attacked the government building after snatching weapons from policemen. The main case is pending before the ATC where police had sought their physical custody.
A senior police official told The Express Tribune that police will arrest them and will produce them before the court. The official said Qadri is likely to land at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal airport on November 16. “That is when he’ll be arrested,” he said.
On October 21, PAT called off its Inquilab sit-in after a record 67 days. Currently Qadri is in Canada and will come back to Pakistan on November 16. PTI, meanwhile, is still moving forward with its Azadi march sit-in almost 92 days after party chief Imran Khan announced it.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2014.