LAHORE: Police arrested three people immediately after they hurled eggs and black ink at Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill as he reached the Lahore High Court on Monday to attend a hearing against him.

In addition to police personnel, lawyers and supporters of the PTI also accompanied Dr Gill when he arrived at the court with an umbrella – as if he was already aware of a possible attack on him. The security on the court premises was also put on high alert before his arrival.

First, supposed PML-N workers hurled eggs at Gill, however, the umbrella saved him. In the second attack, another person threw black ink on the special assistant’s face.

The lawyers and supporters of PTI caught the men and thrashed them till police took the assailants into custody. The arrested men were later shifted to a police station.

On his way to the courtroom, Dr Gill told reporters that being a “soldier of Prime Minister Imran Khan”, he would not reciprocate such violent acts, but respond through politics.

However, during a post-hearing media talk, Gill said he was a Jatt and would retaliate with more force. He also mocked PML-N leaders retired Capt Safdar and Maryam.

Earlier, the court adjourned hearing of the case till March 30 for arguments of the lawyers. Tahir Mobeen and Turkish citizens Cemil Senocak and Yemen Yemenoglu had filed the petition.

Police had registered an FIR on Jan 13 on the complaint of Mr Gill against the petitioners under sections 419, 420, 468 and 471 of PPC. The petitioners contended that the special assistant used his position to get a “fabricated case” registered against them.

A criminal complaint under defamation charge is also pending against Gill by M/s Platform Turizm Tasimacilik, a subsidiary of Albayrak Group of companies. The company sought action against the special assistant under sections 499 and 500 of PPC for levelling false allegations against it.

On his appearance before a sessions court, Gill had also faced a volley of sloganeering against himself and the government by PML-N workers.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2021