LAHORE: Rana Asadullah Khan, brother of Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashhood, on Friday sent a legal notice through his counsel Malik Shamimur Rehman to Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for allegedly accusing Asad of using his influence to land a government job.
The notice asked Dr Qadri to prove within 15 days the allegations he had made against Asad or to issue a public apology.
The notice further said that Rs one billion in damages would be claimed if Dr Qadri failed to either prove his allegations or issue a public apology.
Earlier during the day, in a dangerous flashback to the Model Town tragedy, PAT supporters clashed with security personnel near PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri's residence.
A PAT delegation under the leadership of Dr Raheeq Abbasi was protesting near Qadri's residence when he allegedly ordered protesters to break barriers placed by the police in the area.
Following Abbasi's alleged instructions, enraged PAT members clashed with the police. Three police officials were injured in the skirmish.
Security forces resorted to spraying tear gas on the demonstrators to bring the clash to an end.
Separately, Bhakkar police personnel conducted a raid in 26 Thal Development Authority (TDA) area to arrest two PAT workers, but were instead detained when the PAT workers and their family members punctured the tires of the police vehicle.
On receiving a tip-off about the detention of their personnel, a contingent of security forces approached the PAT members and entered into a dialogue to get their companions freed.
On Thursday night, an extensive police crackdown on Pakistan Awami Tehrik office-bearers and activists continued with hundreds of detentions, Lahore police blocked all main entrances to Model Town to bar PAT workers from reaching Minhajul Quran Secretariat and detained about 110 PAT workers.
Qadri has announced that his party will observe a 'Day of Martyrs' on August 10, to commemorate the lives lost in violent clashes that broke in Lahore's Model Town on June 17.
His resolve to agitate against the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) led government has played a major role in rising political tensions as the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's Azadi March date approaches.
— Tauqeer Ghumman contributed to the reporting of this story
