Lahore police has registered another case against Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for murder of a police constable, as Punjab Police has reportedly arrested PAT workers from different parts of the province as they make their way to Lahore to observe the Youm-e-Shuhuda (Martyrs Day) at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat being observed today.
Many supporters were also reportedly placed under house arrest.
The FIR [First Information Report] against Qadri was registered by the Naseerabad Police in Lahore on the complaint of the deceased constable’s father, who alleged that his son was returning home after dispensing his official duty at Faisal Town when followers of Dr Qadri attacked him with batons, resulting in fatal head injuries and subsequent death at the hospital.
The police has included sections of murder, attempted murder, attacking the police and incitement to treason in the FIR against Qadri and other leaders of his party.
Two FIRs against Qadri and the PAT leadership were registered on Saturday night at the Faisal Town Police Station for inciting violence and attack on police personnel and government property. Sections of anti-terrorism law were also included in those FIRs.
ARRESTS AND BLOCKADES:
Meanwhile, reports pouring in from various cities said that police has taken into custody around 73 PAT supporters from Jhang, 45 from Chiniot, 27 from Toba Tek Singh, 26 from Mianwali and more than 100 from Sargodha.
The crackdown began after police again placed containers on major intersections leading to Lahore, and sealed off Model Town early on Sunday.
Our sources say that the Faisal Town and Model Town areas have been completely sealed by the police and a large police contingent comprising 4,000 personnel has been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.