Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan along with other party leaders were booked in a case on Thursday following yesterday’s clashes at the former ruling party’s rally, which claimed the life of one PTI worker.
The first information report (FIR) – a copy of which is available with the Express Tribune – was registered at the Race Course police station under the anti-terrorism act (ATA), murder, attempt to murder and other offenses.
PTI leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, Farukh Habib, Hassan Niazi and others, were accused of “threatening national security agencies” and “destroying the government and its institutions brick by brick”.
Police forms committee
The Punjab IG issued orders to form a two-member committee consisting of DIG Elite Police Force Sadiq Ali and SSP IAB Lahore Imran Kishwar to conduct an inquiry into Wednesday’s police clashes with PTI workers outside Zaman Park.
The order was issued to “ascertain facts, ensure transparency and find out the reason for loss of life and property” during the incident.
The Punjab IG ordered a fact-finding inquiry to determine the circumstances and situation that led to a gathering of political workers, including the legal status of the gathering.
Further, the committee will investigate what circumstances led to the clashes between the police and PTI workers, including the timings of the start and end of the clashes
The IG asked for the total number of protesters and police officers injured and details of the death of PTI worker Bilal Ali.
The inquiry team will gather statements from witnesses as well as CCTV footage and video clips of the incident. A report will be submitted to the Punjab IG within three days.
The incident
A day earlier, the Lahore police had used force to break up a PTI rally, killing one supporter while dozens others were injured.
The PTI said that the deceased, identified as Ali Bilal alias Zil-e-Shah, died of police torture. The police said two deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), one station house officer (SHO) and eight constables were injured while maintaining the law and order.
The PTI had announced a rally from Zaman Park to Data Darbar to mark the launch of its election campaign. Initially, it was stated that Imran would lead the rally. However, the district administration imposed a ban on public gatherings.
The violence began after police moved to the Zaman Park area, where the PTI chief’s residence is located, to prevent the party workers from advancing toward Mall Road.
The police presence in the area started increasing as they moved to block all the points leading to Zaman Park from all sides. It was followed by the deployment of Anti-Riot Force (ARF), prison vans and water cannons.
On the other hand, the PTI workers, carrying clubs and sticks, moved to resist the police advance. Police then resorted to heavy tear gas shelling and baton charge and used water cannons to disperse them.
Footage of the clashes, shared on social media by both sides, showed police resorting to using force against the PTI workers. The police also rounded up a large number of protestors, while several vehicles on both sides were damaged.
Lahore Police Spokesperson Syed Mubashir Hassan said that “at least 11 policemen, including two DSPs and one SHO, were injured in PTI activists’ torture”. He added two policemen were severely injured and moved to the General Hospital in critical condition.
