Police in Islamabad have filed three cases against the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) following the party’s recent rally. The charges include failing to conclude the rally within the permitted time, pelting stones at law enforcement officials, and violating designated routes. The cases were registered under the Public Order and Peace Act as a response to the events that unfolded during the gathering.
The first case was lodged at the Sangjani Police Station. It accuses the PTI of extending the rally beyond the allowed time frame, a violation of the rally permit. The second case was registered at the Sumbal Police Station, where authorities allege that the rally deviated from its pre-approved route. Convoys led by PTI members passed through unauthorized areas, including Sadaat Colony and the Srinagar Highway. The third case, filed at Noon Police Station, focuses on the stone-pelting incident targeting law enforcement officers, including senior superintendent of police (SSP) Safe City, along with other police officials.
Sources from within the police confirm that the prosecution has been prepared, and 28 local PTI leaders have been named in the cases. Those named include notable figures like Zartaj Gul, Aamir Mughal, Shoaib Shaheen, Umar Ayub, Seemabia Tahir, and Raja Basharat. The prosecution claims that PTI workers launched an attack on police officers using stones and sticks after being stopped for violating their assigned routes. In response, police forces deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd and arrested 17 PTI workers involved in the altercation.
Earlier today, federal ministers Attaullah Tarar and Engineer Amir Maqam held a press conference in Islamabad, accusing the opposition of using unethical means to gather attendees for their rally. They alleged that many participants were coerced into attending the event. The ministers also criticized the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for using provocative language during the rally, which they claim escalated tensions.
The PTI rally, held yesterday in Islamabad, marked the party’s first large public event in some time. The event witnessed violent clashes between PTI supporters and law enforcement officers, resulting in injuries to dozens of policemen and PTI workers. Authorities had granted PTI permission to hold the gathering, but they had also fortified Islamabad with shipping containers, effectively turning the city into a fortress. Over 6,000 personnel from the police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) were deployed to manage the situation.
In addition to heightened security, public transportation services such as the Metro Bus and the Green and Blue Line bus routes were suspended. Trains bound for Islamabad and Rawalpindi were delayed, and all hotels, guest houses, and shops near the rally venue were closed on police orders.
This rally followed the introduction of the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024, which regulates public gatherings and imposes stricter penalties for violations. Despite the challenges, a significant number of PTI supporters attended the rally, which was addressed by various PTI leaders. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, while speaking at the event, announced that Lahore would be the next venue for their movement’s upcoming rally.
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