LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hasan Chohan says the provincial government will arrest the prime minister’s nephew, involved in the lawyers’ hooliganism at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) at any cost.

Talking to reporters on Saturday, the minister said police had raided at least five places to arrest Hassaan Niazi.

“However, we will arrest him (Niazi) as no one is above the law,” he said, adding that Mr Niazi had no links with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Barrister Hassaan Niazi was among the 250 lawyers booked by police for attacking the PIC. The police have faced criticism for not nominating him in the two cases lodged against his colleagues in the aftermath of the PIC incident.

Mr Chohan said 54 lawyers had been arrested in connection with the attack on the PIC. He also took the credit for saving lives of 10 lawyers during the PIC attack. When asked whether he saved them from the doctors, the minister said: “I saved the lives of 10 or so lawyers who were surrounded by the general public.”

Meanwhile, the PPP and PML-N criticised the PTI government for not arresting or nominating PM Khan’s nephew.

PML-N Punjab Information Secretary Azma Bokhari said Imran Khan was not letting police arrest his nephew. The premier should show courage and surrender his nephew before the law, she said.

The PPP also chided the government for not arresting Niazi.

Meanwhile, PPP parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Hasan Murtaza asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to take action against PM Khan in the misuse of provincial government’s helicopter. Like Asif Zardari, Imran Khan was also facing NAB inquiry but he was flying in planes.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2019