RAHIM YAR KHAN: The police registered a case against Mumtaz Mustafa, PTI-backed candidate for NA-171, along with former presidents of District Bar Association (DBA) Hassaan Mustafa and Basharat Hundal, and over 100 lawyers and unidentified people. The case was registered based on the complaint of Assistant Returning Officer Muhammad Ali for NA-171-RYK-III.

According to the first information report filed by City A-Division police under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997-7, and sections 353, 155, 442, 342, 256/II, 145, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code, Mr Ali and his staff were busy in their office at 6:35pm on Saturday when Mr Mustafa, accompanied by Hassaan Mustafa, Basharat Hundal, Jam Mansoor, Raees Muazzam, Mian Ahmed Athar, and 100-125 lawyers, entered the office firing shots. They demanded the return of their nomination papers, intending to replace “PTI” with “PTI Nazriati” and be allotted the symbol of PTI-Nazriati. When Ali refused, citing rule violations, they allegedly attacked him with arms and slapped him. Subsequently, they went to the district returning officer office after breaking the locks of the main gate, holding a government officer hostage for two and a half hours using abusive language.

Before the FIR’s registration, the information was shared in the Information Department’s WhatsApp group. In contrast, the DBA dismissed the entire story as fabricated.

Newly-elected DBA Muhammad Afzaal Chaudhary informed Dawn that the DBA has declared a strike on Monday against the perceived one-sided action of the deputy commissioner. Mr Chaudhary said that a general council meeting has been called for Tuesday. He said that when Mr Mustafa attempted to obtain his allotted symbol in the office of Returning Officer Ahmed Raza Butt, he was informed that his demand was rejected. Due to the absence of the RO at his seat, supporters of Mustafa, along with many lawyers, went to the DC/DRO office to file a complaint. Allegedly, the DC did not listen to their grievances, misbehaved with lawyers, and ordered them to leave his office. An exchange of harsh words ensued between the lawyers and the DC, but eventually, all supporters left the DC office peacefully. Mr Chaudhary claimed that recorded footage and video clips would expose the false FIRs against lawyers and innocent individuals.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024