SAHIWAL: The Sahiwal city police registered a case on Friday against 215 Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers, including former parliamentarians, the runner-up candidate for NA-141, district and tehsil office bearers, under 16 MPO for organising a public protest rally against election rigging on Thursday.

The case was registered under sections 148 and 149, and The Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance-1960 against 15 nominated and 200 unidentified participants, on the complaint by SI Ghulam Abbas.

Reports said that Rana Amir Shahzad, candidate for NA-141, called for a protest rally against rigging, which received full support from the PTI district body.

The protest rally moved from Iris Dera, Liaqat Chowk, Railway Road, and concluded at Azadi Chowk.

District Police Officer Faisal Shahzad told Dawn that the police had prohibited Mr Shahzad from organising the rally. The FIR states that the protest rally took place on the road and streets without permission.

Those named in the FIR include Mr Shahzad, his brother Rana Tariq (ex-MNA), Sajad Nasir (PTI ticket holder), Rizwan Shah, Muhammad Tariq, Naveed Aslam, Chaudhry Adil, Ahmed Ali Dhako, Muhammad Azam, Muhammad Awais, Chaudhry Faisal, Rana Anees, and Naveed.

Mr Shahzad challenged the Form 47 result and applied for a recount. After the recounting of results through Form 45, the ECP notified PML-N’s Pir Imran Shah winner.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2024