PESHAWAR: Police have arrested eight members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) ahead of its public meeting scheduled for Sunday (today).

The deputy commissioner of Peshawar has imposed Section 144 on gathering of five and more persons in the limits of the Yakatut police station due to the Covid-19 pandemic and security threat, where the gathering is scheduled to take place.

The PTM has planned the rally in the Superior Science College ground to mark the second death anniversary of its leader Arman Luni.

On Friday, the directorate of sports had asked the district administration to not allow public gathering, as the ground was meant for sporting activities.

An FIR registered against eight PTM workers, who have been arrested, stated that they were making preparations for the public gathering.

The arrested PTM workers were identified as Israr Safi, Molla Behram, Zubair Shah, Mohammad Zahir, Ghulam Sarwar, Mushtaq Wazir, Nawab Khan and Abdullah. The FIR said that police recovered a pistol and rounds from on the accused. They have been booked under Sections 188 and 15 of the Arms Act.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2021