More arrests made in crackdown on protesters

Published November 6, 2018
Eight suspects produced before ATC. — Photo/File
Eight suspects produced before ATC. — Photo/File

LAHORE: The police continued a crackdown on Monday on those involved in rioting, road blocking, damaging public property and injuring people and police officials across the province in protests after the Supreme Court acquitted Aasia Bibi in a blasphemy case on Oct 31.

On the directions of the federal government, the Punjab police arrested on Monday 159 people for arson, vandalism, violence and attacking the police, according to a spokesperson for the police.

Of them, 44 were arrested in Sahiwal, 18 in Lahore, and five each in Rawalpindi and Nankana Sahib. Out of the total 25 FIRs registered in Punjab under serious charges against the violators, 11 were lodged in Lahore, six in Sheikhupura and four in Sahiwal. Some cases were registered under terrorism charges.

Of the 63 police officers injured by offenders, 58 were discharged from the hospitals while five others, including a DSP, were being treated for their profound injuries. On the other hand, the police record showed that the 42 vehicles damaged and set on fire belonged to the public and 16 to the Punjab police department.

Eight produced before ATC

According to our Sheikhupra and Kasur correspondents, the police arrested 95 and 15 people, while TV channels reported 92 arrests in Faisalabad. In all, according to Interior Minister Shehryar Afridi, 1,800 people have been arrested across Punjab.

The arrests are being made on the basis of the forensic analysis of mobile phone and CCTV footages, and other evidences.

According to the police, damage to public and private vehicles by the offenders was estimated at Rs46.6 million. Also, the Punjab police detained nearly 800 violators under the 16 MPO. A majority of them were released on assurance from them that they would not take part in such activities in the future.

Similarly, 300 people were arrested in the last couple of days in Punjab in 130 criminal cases lodged against them by individuals for damaging their properties.

REMAND: An anti-terrorism court on Monday remanded eight workers of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in 14-day police custody for their alleged involvement in damaging public and private property during protests.

South Cantonment police produced the suspects before the court of Judge Mr Sheikh Sajjad and sought their physical remand for further investigation.

The investigating officer told the court that the suspects also tortured police personnel and tore their uniforms in addition to vandalising the public and private properties, including shops and vehicles. He said the suspects had been identified through CCTV cameras footage and mobile phone video clips made by citizens.

The IO stated that custody of the suspects was required for investigation and arrest of others involved in the violent protests. He asked the court to grant 15-day physical remand of the suspects.

The court, however, allowed the police 14-day physical remand of the suspects -- Ishtiaq, Imran, Afzal, Farhan, Jahanzeb, Danyal and Majid.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.