The Islamabad Police have filed a first information report (FIR) against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and more than a dozen other PTI leaders for allegedly attacking police officers and causing chaos outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC).
The FIR also includes terrorism charges, according to information released on Sunday.
Once the former prime minister came at the FJC to attend a hearing in the Toshakhana case on Saturday there were reports of hours-long skirmishes between PTI workers and the capital police.
A group of law enforcement officers and PTI supporters engaged in a violent altercation, using anti-riot gear and tear gas to push the other side back. Together with petrol bombs to set the police’s cars on fire, the PTI attacked the police with rocks.
Also, the crowd set a police chowki on fire and more than 25 officers were hurt in the clash. Same day, Ramna Police Station House Officer (SHO) Malik Rashid Ahmed submitted a FIR at Islamabad Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) against Imran and other PTI leaders.
The PTI head and 17 other PTI leaders allegedly broke Section 144 which was put into effect in Islamabad yesterday, and blocked the road for traffic, according to SHO Ahmed’s FIR.
It named PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, former deputy speaker Asad Qaisar, leaders Hammad Azhar, Ali Amin Gandapur, Ali Nawaz Awan, Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Hassaan Khan Niazi, Omer Ayub Khan, Amjad Khan Niazi, Khurram Nawaz, Jamshed Mughal, Aamir Kiyani, Farrukh Habib, Dr. Shehzad Waseem, Umer Sultan and Imran’s Chief Security Officer retired lieutenant colonel Muhammad Asim.
A terrorist complaint against PTI demonstrators was reportedly filed at the capital’s CTD Police Station, according to an update from the Islamabad police. It said that 60 persons were detained and brought in court with further raids under way for further arrests.
The following was stated in a tweet sent out early on Sunday: “Fifty-two policemen were hurt after incensed workers pelted stones at the officers of Islamabad Capital Police and other helping forces at the presence of PTI Chairman Imran Khan at the Judiciary Complex.”
In addition, four of the Islamabad police’s cars were “totally torched,” while three vehicles belonged to the Punjab police and Frontier Constabulary were also damaged.
A day after the Punjab police had stormed into Imran’s home, the PTI said on Sunday that it will file proceedings against the police officers engaged in the “illegal operation” at his Zaman Park property in Lahore.
Fawad Chaudhry, the leader of the PTI, stated in a tweet today that disobeying court decisions is unacceptable. The [Lahore] High Court ought to protect its judgments. We are bringing legal action against all of the police personnel engaged in the unlawful operation and the abuse.
The party’s legal staff will meet today to consider the future course of action, Fawad continued.
