FIRs lodged against 52 suspects of Gujranwala protest

Published May 27, 2015
52 individuals have been charged under sections 6 and 7 of the ATA for involvement in protests following the Daska killings. ─ Reuters/File
52 individuals have been charged under sections 6 and 7 of the ATA for involvement in protests following the Daska killings. ─ Reuters/File

GUJRANWALA: Police have lodged two first information reports (FIR) against 52 individuals allegedly involved in the May 25 lawyers' protests following the Daska shootings ─ where two lawyers were shot dead.

The FIRs were registered at the Civil Lines police station naming eight individuals ─ including Advocate Imran Muneer Saghir, who was charged for vandalising an elite forces' vehicle with a brick ─ while 44 accused remain unnamed.

The individuals have been charged under Sections 6 and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act for public protests, causing damage to public property, stoning of police vehicles, use of force against police officials and seizing police arms.

Read more: Lawyers up in arms against police

Police spokesperson Gulraiz Khan said no FIRs have been lodged specifically against lawyers, while Station House Officer Civil Lines added that both FIRs have been sealed.

Sporadic violent protests erupted in several cities of Punjab after two lawyers, including the president of the local bar association, were shot dead on Monday.

Daska police station SHO inspector Shahzad Warraich allegedly fired at the lawyers who were protesting outside the Daska Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) office on Kutchehry road against its record keeper for allegedly misbehaving with a lawyer, Amir Shahzad Bajwa.

The bullets fired by police hit three lawyers — Rana Abbas, Irfan Chohan and Zohaib Sahi — and a passerby.

Rana Abbas died at the Daska hospital and Irfan Chohan lost his life while he was being taken to Lahore’s Mayo Hospital.

The Punjab Bar Council called for May 27 and 28 to be observed as strikes to condemn the Daska shootings.

Read more: Daska killings: Protesting lawyers try to break into Punjab Assembly

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