Rawalpindi: Police in Rawalpindi registered a FIR against senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and hundreds of unidentified supporters after a late-night protest outside a factory on Adiala Road turned violent, officials said.
The case includes terrorism and attempted murder charges, marking a significant escalation in the government’s response to street protests.
Protest escalates into clashes
According to police, PTI leaders staged a sit-in protest late Tuesday night during a scheduled meeting day with Imran Khan outside the Shaigham factory on Adyala Road.
Authorities said the protest leadership incited the crowd with anti-government and anti-establishment slogans. The gathering swelled to around 400 people and became increasingly aggressive by about 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
As tensions rose, police intervened and deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Arrests made amid police action
During the operation, police said 14 protesters clashed directly with law enforcement personnel. All 14 were arrested at the scene, while the remaining protesters fled.
No official details were immediately available on injuries sustained during the clashes.
14 Adiala Jail protestors sent on Physical remand
Police on Wednesday produced 14 protesters arrested overnight in connection with a sit-in led by Aleema Khan outside Adiala Jail before an anti-terrorism court, where a judge approved a three-day physical remand and handed the suspects back to investigators, court officials said.
The hearing, presided over by Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Amjad Ali Shah, followed the late-night arrests linked to the protest, marking a swift legal move as authorities intensify action over demonstrations near the high-security prison.
Senior PTI figures named
Following deliberations, police registered an FIR at Saddar Beroni police station against the 14 arrested individuals and named several prominent PTI leaders as accused.
Those nominated include sisters of the party’s founding leader, Qasim Khan, Salman Akram Raja, Advocate Tabish, Semabia, Naeem Haider Panjota, Taimoor Masood, a former member of the provincial assembly, and sitting lawmakers Tanveer Aslam, Bismah Riaz and Tayyaba Raja.
The FIR also names between 300 and 400 unidentified individuals.
Serious charges invoked
Police said the case invokes Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, along with other provisions related to attempted murder, criminal conspiracy and incitement.
The party has previously denied allegations of orchestrating violence during protests, saying its demonstrations are peaceful and constitutionally protected.
The development comes amid heightened political tensions and continued crackdowns on opposition protests across Pakistan.
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