GUJRAT/SAHIWAL: The Wazirabad police have booked at least 66 nominated and 30 unidentified workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on charges of attacking police and kidnapping a cop during the visit of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sept 16 (Wednesday).

PTI central Punjab president Muhammad Ahmed Chatha, his wife Aen Ahmed Chatha and brother Fayaz Chatha, a former Gujranwala district Nazim and PTI ticket-holder in PP-36 (Wazirabad), as well as some former presidents of Wazirabad district bar association, are among the nominated.

Wazirabad Saddar Station House Officer SI Ali Husnain Bajwa alleged in his complaint that at least 66 nominated and 30 unidentified suspects were carrying clubs and rods who blocked the road near Nadra office.

The suspects, he said, chanted slogans against the government and later subjected an on duty constable Muqaddas Ali to severe physical torture, kidnapped him and took him to the residence of [one] Imtiaz in Mahfooz Garden locality where the suspects snatched his official wireless set and purse including the identity cards and a cash of Rs9,700. The suspects, he alleged, tore the clothes of the constable and tortured him.

40 party men arrested in Sahiwal sent to central jail

The case was registered under sections 6/7 of Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and sections 365, 324, 382, 353, 341, 431, 186, 148 and 149 of Pakistan Penal Code on the report of the complainant.

Earlier, KP Chief Minister Afridi had claimed that his security staff had overpowered an alleged attacker along with a pistol who had plotted to assassinate him (CM); however, the Gujranwala police and the Punjab government had denied the charges.

Earlier, a case was also lodged against some PTI leaders and president of Sialkot District Bar Association on the charges of attacking the police party during the visit of the KP CM on Wednesday.

In Sahiwal,on the direction of deputy commissioner, 40 workers, supporters and office-bearers of PTI were shifted to central jail. Sources said they were detained for 30 days under Section 3 of Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.

It was learnt that 16 activists were arrested in Chichawatni and 24 in Sahiwal tehsils. As many as six of them were later released by police after taking some affidavits and assurance that they would not participate in any rally.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2026