ISLAMABAD: A case has been registered against former incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founding chairperson Imran Khan and several party leaders and workers under serious charges of “rebellion and terrorism”.
The case was filed at the Islam Pura police station on Sunday, accusing former premier Imran, along with 200 party members, of inciting “violence against the state”.
Among the named individuals in the FIR are prominent PTI lawmakers, including Hamad Azhar, Salman Akram Raja, Ghulam Mohiuddin, MPA Shahbaz, Musrat Jamshed Cheema, Sheikh Imtiaz, Ali Imtiaz, and Shabbir Gujjar.
According to the FIR, Imran allegedly incited these leaders from jail, urging them to “promote violence against the state”, which led to protests and vandalism.
The police reported that PTI activists injured a constable, Bilal, during the demonstrations, and 16 agitators were detained at the scene.
Despite the imposition of Section 144 in Lahore and four other cities, banning all political gatherings, PTI supporters turned out in large numbers.
The government had also deployed Rangers in Lahore, setting up roadblocks with containers and putting police and paramilitary forces on high alert.
The Punjab government, acting on the recommendations of the Standing Committee of Cabinet on Law and Order, had also requested army troops to maintain order.
Additionally, cases have been filed against PTI workers for violating Section 144 during protests across the city, including at the Milat Park and Hanjra Wal police stations.
A case was registered at Hanjra Wal police station against 20 workers on behalf of ASI Aqeel, who had apprehended protesters on the previous day.
Several PTI leaders, including Lahore MPA Ahmer Rasheed Bhatti, ticket-holders Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar and Malik Nadeem Bara, were detained at the protest venue.
The opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, was also arrested, and his whereabouts remained unknown until late in the night.
Meanwhile, an FIR was filed at Milat Park police station by Sub-Inspector Hafiz Imran against 10 workers for similar violations.
