BAHAWALPUR, Dec 6: Police on Tuesday registered a case under 16-MPO against six opposition leaders for allegedly criticizing army’s role in politics during a book-launching ceremony the other day. They included PML-N MNA Saad Rafique, Chaudhry Mumtaz Ahmed Jajja, ex-Punjab parliamentary secretary Samiullah Chaudhury, PPP leader Habibullah Shakir, Aqeel Najam Hashmi and Hassan Murtaza.

Reports said the political leaders, while commenting on the book ‘Gernaloon Ki Siyasat’ written by a journalist, had severely criticized the participation of generals in the country’s politics.

Earlier, the book-launching ceremony was allowed at the local circuit house. Later on it was shifted to Rashadi Hall, which was under the administrative control of the government’s arts council. A day earlier its permission was also cancelled by the local administration when the literary society booked a local marriage hall for the purpose. The management of the hall was also allegedly restrained from holding the function.

The police did not nominate MMA MNA Farid Piracha who had also criticised the generals. However, no arrests had been made.