Imran Khan's PTI Protest Turns Violent: Major Arrests and FIRs Filed

Following a violent protest organized by Imran Khan's PTI in Rawalpindi, police have filed FIRs against hundreds, including prominent leaders. Despite Section 144, over a hundred PTI leaders and workers have been arrested on various serious charges.

A day after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaaf (PTI), staged a protest in Rawalpindi that turned violent, police have registered FIRs against hundreds of participants, as reported by Dawn. The police in Pakistan's Punjab province filed the FIRs even though there were calls for a peaceful gathering by the jailed former Prime Minister. Hundreds of protesters, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, participated despite Section 144 being imposed by the provincial government.

According to Punjab's Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 144 imposes a ban on public gatherings, rallies, and activities for a specific duration. Dawn reported that three FIRs stated Imran Khan called for protests at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi. Express Tribune noted that a senior police officer, on condition of anonymity, said PTI's leadership called for the protest despite knowing about the Section 144 imposition.

The police arrested more than a hundred PTI leaders and workers on charges such as violating the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, defying the protest ban, shouting slogans against the government and institutions, obstructing police work, damaging police vehicles, seizing weapons, and injuring police officials. Named in these cases were key PTI leaders like Shehryar Riaz, Seemabia Tahir, and 107 activists, while more than 450 others have been labeled as 'unknown suspects' and booked under the law.

A significant setback occurred for Imran Khan and Gandapur, both charged under Section 109 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of Pakistan. Gandapur struck a defiant tone, asserting that the government could not divert them from their goal.

'The undemocratic government on Form 47 is destroying the constitution with amendments. Where we get an order to protest, we will go. They are now firing tear gas and bullets, but these cannot divert us from our goal,' Gandapur told reporters. The Anti-Terrorism Act of Pakistan grants law enforcement agencies increased powers, including the invasion of privacy and, in severe cases, the death penalty.

According to Dawn, PTI has alleged that police used 'expired tear gas shells' to disperse the protesters, but the police dismissed the claims as baseless, stating that the shells were recently manufactured and have a five-year shelf life. The intense protests disrupted essential services in Rawalpindi, blocking ambulances and restricting movement across the city, causing a halt in basic activities. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)