Police registers a case against PML N provincial chief. PHOTO: EXPRESS
According to insiders familiar with the matter, the case has been registered because the party leader violated the law by holding a protest and blocking roads last week.
Like other parts of the province, on June 4, PML-N workers and losing candidates from different union councils held a protest rally from Khalo village to the office of returning officer (RO) of Ghazi tehsil.
Led by Shah, the protesters blocked Hatiyan-Tarbela Road in front of Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, disrupting the flow of traffic on the busy road for over an hour; they dispersed peacefully later. The PML-N leader had addressed the protest and accused the ruling party, PTI, of “breaking all records of manipulating elections”.
The case details
According to the insider, since the deputy commissioner had prohibited protests and assembly of people under Section 144 at that time, a criminal case was registered against Shah and eight other leaders under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code for organising the protest and instigating demonstrators to block the road.
“Yes, a case was registered on Saturday against those who violated Section 144 and caused traffic disruption,” another police insider confirmed to The Express Tribune.
When asked if Shah’s name was among the protesters facing charges, he said, “All those who broke the law have been charged in the FIR,” avoiding disclosing anything about the former CM’s involvement.
“The FIR has been sealed as the administration is not in a mood to go head to head against an opposition party’s chief at the moment,” said another policeman.
However, when contacted, Shah said he was not aware of any such case against him. “I have no knowledge of any FIR, but if it is true, the police are free to exercise their legal powers and nobody can stop them,” he said. “But we are also at liberty constitutionally to protest against the wrongdoings of government and we will continue without any fear.”
Incidentally, Shah had been at loggerheads with his party’s central leadership for not issuing him a Senate ticket and allotting it to General (Retired) Salahuddin Tirmizi from Mansehra instead, reportedly on the recommendation of Captain (Retired) Safdar, PM Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law.
Shah had earlier addressed a news conference in Peshawar and announced quitting his party responsibilities, however, the PM had visited his residence in Shataloo Sharif Sirikot village last month along with senior party leaders. This has helped remove the leader’s concerns, and he then resumed his political activities. These days, he is busy wooing independently elected district and tehsil councillors from Haripur into joining his party.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2015.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ