An operation spearheaded by the Islamabad Police is underway at the Parliament Lodges after Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl’s (JUI-F’s) uniformed volunteer force, Ansarul Islam’s members entered the premises in throngs.
According to local TV footage, police was seen conducting the operation inside Parliament Lodges. Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammad Ahsan Younus had taken note of the presence of Ansarul Islam members in the lodges.
In a tweet, the Islamabad Police noted that police officials who were present at the D-Chowk, were suspended as the JUI-F volunteers managed to enter the lodges while they were on duty. The IGP took control of the operation after.
Meanwhile, media has reported that JUI-F Chief and head of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman has reached Parliament Lodges. He reportedly called on his workers to collect in Islamabad.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N’s) Khawaja Saad Rafique who was present at the premises said that he was in a meeting with Ayaz Sadiq when the police came in and revealed they had warrants for the JUI-F workers. He said they tried to explain to the workers that they couldn’t barge in like that and referred to the action as “illegal”.
Speaking to a local media channel, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid accused JUI-F of bringing 70 workers inside the Parliament Lodges. He said that the Ansarul Islam workers were hidden inside and they also got in a physical row with police officials and locked them up. He added that others were being halted from entering the premises.
After several JUI-F leaders and workers were arrested, Rehman urged workers to reach the capital promptly.
In a press conference addressing the incident soon after, Rehman said that he was now there in the field and if any member of JUI-F or PDM was arrested, he would go ahead and get arrested as well. He declared a ‘public war’ and said that the whole nation should rise up against the government.
Standing next to him, PML-N’s Khawaja Asif said that MNA’s were arrested as well and that they were taken away without any papers or arrest warrants. He said that he was an eye witness to the incident and said that the arrests were made without regard for the law.
This is a developing story and will be updated as reports come. Early reports of such incidents may be liable to inaccuracies.
