PESHAWAR: Inspector General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nasir Durrani told DawnNews on Monday that First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain to "evacuate and protect him" from the clutches of the charged activists.

The KP police chief said that Iftikhar was under mob charge during clashes between ANP and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists following the local body elections in KP.

He said the FIR which booked Mian Iftikhar under Section 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code was filed after pressure from the mob outside the ANP leader's Pabbi residence in the Nowshera district increased.

However, a copy of the FIR obtained by Dawn.com showed Iftikhar had been booked under Sections 302 and 324 in addition to Section 109 of PPC.

Section 109 of PPC deals with charges of aiding and abetting a crime, however, Section 302 and 324 of PPC deals with the charges of murder and attempt to murder respectively.

Earlier today, the father of slain PTI activist, Habibullah, said he had filed an FIR against Iftikhar under duress by "enraged protestors".

"People put pressure on me. Neither Mian Iftikhar nor his guards murdered my son," he told Nowshera Judicial Magistrate Sheraz Tariq in court today, adding that he was overcome by emotion at the time.

Accused Mian Iftikhar said in court he "could never think of killing anyone". "It would have been like killing my own son," he said. He also said he would do his best to bring Habibullah's murderer to justice.

Mian Iftikhar was arrested on Sunday after the killing of a PTI activist in the Pabbi area of KP's Nowshera district. The killing took place following a clash between ANP and PTI activists near his Pabbi residence on Saturday night after the announcement of the area's results of the local government polls held the same day.

The PTI activist died of gunshot wounds sustained during the clash. A case was registered against the veteran ANP leader and his guards on various charges including murder and attempted murder over the complaint of the deceased's father.

However, DawnNews reported late on Monday that police has removed Mian Ifthikar's name from the FIR of the murder of PTI activist. Ifthikar's release is expected anytime soon.

Read more: Named Mian Iftikhar in FIR under pressure, says slain PTI youth's father

No major terror activity shows polls were a success

IG Durrani referred to the local body polls as a challenge, saying that the police had dealt with threats to law and order, and the possibility of terrorist attacks. Durrani said the police had received intelligence reports of terrorists sabotaging the elections, and that the police force had very little time to prepare.

The fact that there was no terrorist activity during the local body polls is evidence that the polls were a success, he said.

The IG said that police are not allowed inside polling stations unless they are specifically requested to handle a situation, and that whatever happens inside a polling station falls under the authority of polling officers.

Nasir Durrani explained that the Ali Amin Gandapur case was separate from the Mian Iftikhar case, and that an FIR had been lodged against Gandapur, against which action would be taken.

He also revealed that all rallies had been cancelled for a week in an effort to exert better control over law and order, and that no one would be allowed to organise a rally without a non-objection certificate (NOC).

Peshawar district administration imposed Section 144 until June 23 in an effort to maintain law and order during the upcoming local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pillion riding, aerial firing, display of weapons and the use of loudspeakers in public gatherings and political rallies will be completely banned under Section 144.

Read more: Section 144 imposed in Peshawar ahead of LG polls