A day after initiating a robust crackdown, Lahore police took legal action on Monday by registering a case against 38 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and leaders for alleged arson and vandalism on Mall Road. The case, arising from the arrests of PTI leaders and workers during the Mall Road protests, was filed at Anarkali police station, encompassing serious charges such as terrorism, kidnapping, interference in government affairs, and harassment.
Among the individuals implicated in the case are 38 activists, including PTI leader Hafiz Farhat Abbas, Fauzia, Hadira, and Hamida Bibi. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Hafiz Farhat Abbas allegedly incited PTI workers to damage government property and set houses on fire during the protest. The document states that PTI workers also damaged an official vehicle.
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Hafiz Farhat Abbas and unidentified accomplices are accused of opening heavy fire, resulting in damage to an official vehicle. The FIR further alleges that Hafiz Farhat Abbas and his colleagues tore a constable’s uniform and attempted to kidnap him, with the constable later being recovered from Istanbul Square. Following the apprehension of Hafiz Farhat Abbas, the police reportedly discovered a pistol, along with batons and sticks, from the 42 accused who were arrested.
The police response has faced criticism for its forceful handling of PTI supporters and the arrest of over 100 members during nationwide protests, prompted by allegations of rigging in the general election held last month. The PTI organized the protests to demand the restoration of what it claims to be its “stolen mandate” from the February 8 election and the immediate release of party leaders, including founder and former premier Imran Khan.
The Lahore demonstration, initially intended to voice these demands, turned violent as PTI members and supporters clashed with the police. Various videos circulating on social media depicted scenes of police officers wielding sticks and forcibly detaining protesters inside police vehicles. The legal case marks a formal step in addressing the alleged incidents of arson and violence during the protests, further intensifying the ongoing tensions between the PTI and law enforcement authorities.
