March 11, 2024
Staff Report
LAHORE:
More than 60 supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were arrested on charges of terrorism, following street protests against alleged election rigging in Lahore.
In what eyewitnesses describe as an otherwise peaceful protest, police resorted to baton-charging protesters and forcibly removed them from their vehicles.
Prominent figures detained include parliamentarians Farhat Abbas, Maqsood Sabir Ansari, Maher Salim, Barrister Shahid Masood and Sardar Nadir Farooq.
Terrorism cases were registered against 42 PTI workers at the Anarkali police station.
According to the FIR, the police allege that under Farhat Abbas’s leadership, around 60 enraged workers wielding batons attacked law enforcers and caused damage to state property. “Abbas and several unidentified individuals fired on a police vehicle and abducted a policeman, who was later rescued,” the FIR stated.
In a separate incident, PTI MNA Latif Khosa was detained in Lahore’s Cantt area and PTI leader Salman Akram Raja was detained in Ichhra– for their involvement in protests. Both Khosa and Raja were later released on bail.
Cases were filed against Latif Khosa and 20 unknown individuals in Lahore’s Cantt charged for creating public nuisance under 290 and 291 of PPC.
Speaking to Voicepk, Latif Khosa’s son Balkh Sher Khosa expressed dismay over the arrest of his father – “Terrorism charges were aimed at depriving workers of bail and instilling fear to deter future protests.”
He asserted that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and does not warrant terrorism charges.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the arrests. The organisation tweeted: “HRCP condemns the consistent high-handedness of the state in cracking down on PTI protestors and detaining several key party figures in Lahore… during a protest against alleged electoral malpractice. All citizens, regardless of their political affiliation, have a constitutionally protected right to assemble freely and peacefully. The Punjab government must respect and uphold its political rivals’ right to do so if it is to restore people’s trust in the state.”
HRCP condemns the consistent high-handedness of the state in cracking down on PTI protestors and detaining several key party figures in Lahore earlier today, during a protest against alleged electoral malpractice. All citizens, regardless of their political affiliation, have a…
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) March 10, 2024
PTI leader Hammad Azhar criticised the filing of the FIRs under terrorism provisions, alleging that it was a tactic to instill fear and suppress dissent.
پرامن احتجاج کرنے پر دہشت گردی کی دفعات پر مبنی جھوٹی FIR ہمارے کارکنان پر درج۔ دراصل اس FIR کا مقصد ازخود دہشت پھیلانا ہے اور لوگوں کو ڈرانا ہے۔
اندھیر نگری چوپٹ راج۔۔مریم نواز pic.twitter.com/Mn2MXHtvWv
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) March 10, 2024
Journalists covering the PTI protest at the GPO chowk reported being harassed by the police, with attempts made to confiscate their mobile phones.