RAWALPINDI: As many as 50 workers and activists of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) were shifted to Jhelum from Adiala jail on Friday.

According to sources, police have arrested 176 individuals due to their alleged involvement in the recent violent demonstrations, and detained 58 others under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance. The sources said out of the arrested people, 50 were shifted to the district jail Jhelum.

In the Rawalpindi district, 13 FIRs have been registered against the TLP activists on various charges ranging from inciting people against the government and violating the Covid-19 SOPs.

Though the government had announced to release all those detained under the MPO, none of the detainees was released from the Adiala jail on Friday.

Meanwhile, a sub-inspector of Islamabad police posted to the Tarnol police station was detained by the Rawalpindi police after he intercepted the convoy of a judge of Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench on the way to Taxila on Thursday.

According to police sources, the sub-inspector signaled the motorcade of the judge to stop near Sangjani but it continued its journey on the fast track.

The sub-inspector chased the convoy in a Mehran car and stopped it and used harsh words with the staff members.

However, after the operator of the judge complained to the Rawalpindi traffic police, the sub-inspector was intercepted and shifted to the Taxila police station.

Later, he was allowed to go on the directive of the judge. The judge said he would ask the Islamabadpolice chief to take departmental action against the official.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2021