LAHORE: The PML-N has accused the PTI-led coalition government of making Punjab ‘a police state’.

The party submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly on Saturday, condemning the police raids at the residences of its 12 MPAs after warrants were issued for their arrest for their alleged involvement in the violence witnessed in the Punjab Assembly during the chief minister’s election on April 16.

Interestingly, the Sharifs of the PML-N were most often accused of turning Punjab a ‘police state’.

The resolution said the PML-N would face the political victimisation of the Punjab government with courage.

On Friday, the warrants for PML-N MPAs Attaullah Tarar, his brother Bilal Tarar, Awais Leghari, Rana Mashhood, Saiful Malook Khokhar, Mirza Javed, Abdur Rauf, Pir Ashraf Rasool, Pir Khizar Hayat Khagga, Raja Sagheer Ahmad, Bilal Farooq and Rana Manan were issued for their failure to join the investigation, despite the issuance of several summons.

However, these lawmakers managed to evade police and fled to Islamabad with the PML-N at the helm of affairs in the federal government.

The PML-N MPAs were accused of creating mayhem in the Punjab Assembly during the election of the chief minister.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2022