RAWALPINDI: More than 50 people, including the son of PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi and a former MPA, were booked by Civil Lines police for rioting and property damage in the district courts after the Control of Narcotics Substance (CNS) court sentenced Abbasi to life in prison in the ephedrine case.

The case was registered with the police on the application of CNS court official Chaudhry Mohammad Qadeer. No arrests have been made in the case so far.

The case has been registered against Abbasi’s son Hamas Abbasi, former PML-N MPA Ziaullah Shah, Suhail Ahmed, Shaukat Abbasi, Faizan Shah, Asif Shah, Abid Abbasi, Nawaz, Sajid and between 40 and 50 unknown individuals.

Abbasi’s son, former MPA among those booked by Civil Lines police

According to the FIR, the complainant told police he was in court when CNS Special Judge Sardar Akram announced Abbasi’s sentence and police arrested him.

Then, he said, the nominated individuals and unknown people began shouting slogans and using foul language.

He said people picked up chairs and flowerpots outside the courtroom and broke the windows; they also misbehaved with court officials, but the situation was managed by security personnel.

Civil Lines police have registered a case under PPC sections 149 (unlawful assembly of people), 147 (rioting), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot)and 440 (mischief by damaging or destroying property).

Civil Lines Station House Officer Zaheeruddin confirmed that a case has been registered after the incident at the district courts and investigations were ongoing.

He said no arrests had been made until Sunday morning, but the police would arrest those nominated in the case and present them in court.

Meanwhile PML-N workers and leaders are making arrangements for pre-arrest bail.

“The police registered the case just to pick up the main party leaders and workers before the elections, but we will not allow them to stop the PML-N campaign in the last two days,” PML-N Metropolitan President Sardar Naseem said.

These two days are crucial to complete the local campaign, and the government wants to occupy us with police cases, Mr Naseem said.

He added that party workers were not afraid of the cases, and they would present Nawaz Sharif’s narrative in every corner of the country.

PML-N workers rally in support of Hanif Abbasi

PML-N workers and supporters attended a rally on Murree Road on Sunday in solidarity with Hanif Abbasi that ended soon after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that the elections in Abbasi’s former constituency, NA-60, had been postponed.

Led by Sardar Naseem and Chaudhry Tanvir Khan, the rally gathered on 6th Road and travelled to Committee Chowk, flying black flags and sloganeering in favour of Abbasi and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The rally was preceded by a press conference by Chaudhry Tanvir and Sardar Naseem, who announced that a relative of Abbasi’s would contest the constituency in the future if Abbasi was not allowed to run.

He said the PML-N had rejected the court decision, the timing of which has exposed the conspiracies being hatched in the country.

Chaudhry Tanvir said the PML-N would not leave space for Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in the city.

He claimed Abbasi had gotten the quota of ephedrine according to the law, but the case was made to pressure him. He called this pre-poll rigging, and said the ECP should take notice.

Mr Naseem said it was beyond understanding that Sheikh Rashid had announced the court decision two days before the court announced it at 11pm on Saturday. “It is not prediction,” he said.

He added that the decision would be appealed in the high court.

PML-N women workers from Faisalabad also protested on Sunday outside Adiala jail, led by former MNA Khalida Mansoor and Senator Nuzhat Sadiq.

They carried placards and shouted slogans in favour of Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, and dispersed peacefully after laying a wreath of flowers in front of gate no. 5 at the prison.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2018