PTI Chairman Imran Khan along other party leaders booked on terror charges over chaos outside Judicial Complex in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, Mar 19 (SABAH): The Islamabad Police have lodged a first information report (FIR) — including terrorism charges — against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan and more than a dozen PTI leaders for allegedly attacking police officers and causing chaos outside the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC), it emerged on Sunday.
Hours-long clashes were reported between PTI workers and the capital police on Saturday after the former prime minister arrived at the FJC to attend a hearing in the Toshakhana case.
In the violent confrontation, a contingent of law enforcers and PTI supporters used anti-riot gear against each other with teargas used from both sides to push the opposing side back. The PTI used rocks against the police alongside petrol bombs to set their vehicles on fire.
The mob also set a police chowki on fire and during the confrontation over 25 officials were injured.
The same day, Ramna Police Station House Officer (SHO) Malik Rashid Ahmed registered an FIR at the Islamabad Counter Terrorism Department against Imran Khan and other PTI leaders.
The complaint invoked sections 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 380 (theft in dwelling house, etc), 395 (punishment for dacoity), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred rupees), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
It also included Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997.
In the FIR, SHO Ahmed said that the PTI chief along with 17 other PTI leaders violated Section 144 — imposed in Islamabad on Saturday— and blocked the road for traffic.
It named PTI Secretary General Asad Umar, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, leaders Hammad Azhar, Ali Amin Gandapur, Ali Nawaz Awan, Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz, Hassaan Khan Niazi, Omer Ayub Khan, Amjad Ali Khan Niazi, Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, Jamshed Mughal, Aamir Mehmood Kiyani, Farrukh Habib, Senator Dr. Shehzad Waseem, Umer Sultan and Imran’s Chief Security Officer retired lieutenant colonel Muhammad Asim.
The FIR also named 18 people involved in causing damage to the FJC, 22 others involved in causing damage in the FJC’s parking area and lighting up fires, and 19 others involved in allegedly injuring police officials. It also mentioned that stones, lighters and bottles filled with petrol were recovered from some of them.
SHO Ahmed claimed that PTI workers were armed with stones which they threw at a check post of the Dhok Kashmirian police station. They also burnt down barriers and tents at the check post.
“The charged crowd then surrounded the Judicial Complex from four sides, broke down its main gate, and then stoned the building until its windows were shattered,” the complaint stated.
It added that another group of PTI leaders set fire to 16 government and police vehicles and four motorcycles in the parking of the JDC. “They also took 9mm pistols, Rs20,000, and a wireless set from the car.”
The protesters, the FIR went on to say, snatched eight anti-riot kits from the policemen, hit police officers with sticks, and hurled stones at them.
In an update, the Islamabad police said a terrorism case was registered against PTI protesters at the CTD Police Station in the capital.
It added that 60 individuals were arrested and presented in court with more raids under way for further arrests.
Earlier, the Islamabad police said it had issued directives to estimate the damage done by PTI supporters outside the Judicial Complex.
In a tweet posted on early Sunday morning, it said: “Fifty-two policemen were injured from incited workers pelting stones at the officials of Islamabad Capital Police and other assisting forces at the appearance of PTI Chairman Imran Khan at the Judicial Complex.”
It added that 12 vehicles of the Islamabad police and three belonging to the Punjab police and Frontier Constabulary were damaged, among which four of the Islamabad police’s were “completely burned.”
In a separate tweet, the police shared pictures of the Islamabad IG Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan visiting the judicial complex at night where he met workers of various forces and lauded them for their efforts. “Legal action will be taken against the elements involved in the protests,” it added.
On the other hand, PTI workers attacked the Punjab Police Elite Force and its van while they returned from the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) final match Sunday night.
The Punjab government has decided to take action against those involved in the attack.
“Action will be taken against miscreants who attacked the Elite Force team and its vehicle,” spokesperson of the provincial government said.
The party’s workers hit the van with sticks and broke its windows. They also damaged the police van’s lights and windscreen, while the Elite Force personnel ran away to save their lives.
The PTI workers also had state-owned weapons in the vehicles under their control and stole two rifles, which is still in their possession, and left it completely destroyed.
A policeman was also tortured while he was returning from his duty.
Following the violence in which the Elite Force and police response unit vans were attacked by the Khan-led party’s workers, the Lahore Police officials asked all officers going to or returning from their duty points to change their routes.
They have advised the personnel to not use the Zaman Park route when going towards Mughalpura, Lal Pul, and Dharmapura, while officers in uniform have been warned against passing from the area where Khan’s home is located.
Meanwhile, the three students arrested from Zaman Park on Saturday have been handed over to their family, the Capital City Police Lahore wrote on its Twitter.
The police stated that it decided not to put the students’ future in danger and won’t be taking any legal action against them.
The students were advised to support their parents who appreciated the police’s initiative to secure their children’s future. The students, who were asked by the police to steer clear of illegal activities, also promised to focus on their education.