An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore issued Non-Financial Arrest Orders for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Prime Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in relation to a case that involves violence against the police during a protest by Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) held in Lahore on October 5.
The ATC also issued arrest orders for three other PTI leaders, Hammad Azhar, Saeed Sindhu and Shehbaz Ahmed, for not joining the investigation despite the repeated police citation.
The police said that the appointed individuals were sought in cases related to the protest of October 5 of last year during which PTI workers allegedly attacked the law personnel.
According to police officers, PTI leaders had been nominated in multiple FIR and were summoned several times to join the investigation, but did not comply.
On September 30, the founder of PTI, Imran Khan, called a series of protests in support of the Judiciary and against the proposed judicial package, starting in Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Mianwali on October 2.
The founding president of PTI Incarceado had also announced that PTI workers would meet at the Islamabad D-Cowk on October 4 and at LaHore Minar-E-Pakistan on October 5.
During these protests, particularly in Lahore and Islamabad, the situation became tense as there were violent clashes between political supporters and police officers.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on October 5, said more than 80 police personnel members were injured in clashes with confrontations with former Prime Minister Khan in jail, participating in a march near Islamabad.
On the other hand, Lahore witnessed intense clashes between PTI and police activists when political disturbances intensified in the metropolis.
The confrontations left dozens wounds, both protesters and police staff. The riots, triggered by a protest led by PTI, quickly intensified when the police used tear gas to disperse the protesters in several key places, including Awan-E-Adal, Badami Bagh and Sheranwala Gate. Despite a strong police presence, many protesters resisted efforts to clear the areas.
