Clashes with police: FIR registered against PTI leaders including Imran Khan

LAHORE: A case was registered against Chairman Imran Khan and other leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for attacking police and using foul language against national security institutions after Section 144 was imposed in Lahore.

The first information report (FIR) was filed on behalf of DSP Raiwind on Thursday under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), and Sections 147, 149, 353, 186, 302, 324, 188, 427, 290, 291, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The FIR says that 300-400 PTI activists committed violence in Lahore and used foul language against state institutions on Wednesday.

Imran Khan was to begin his party’s election campaign with a rally on Wednesday. However, the Punjab government imposed Section 144 for seven days. PTI workers ignored the ban and still came out on the streets that resulted in clashes with Punjab Police.

Police lobbed tear gas shells and baton-charged Imran Khan’s supporters with the clashes leaving several injured on both sides.

The FIR said that the PTI workers abused the institutions on the directions of former prime minister Imran Khan, Hassan Niazi, Hammad Azhar, Memoodul Rasheed, Farrukh Habib, Fawad Chaudhry, and Ejaz Chaudhry.

It said the mob pelted stones and attacked police personnel with sticks that resulted in 13 policemen suffering injuries while six PTI workers also got hurt due to their own party workers’ violence.