RAHIM YAR KHAN: Two opposition MPAs and three former MPAs, belong to the PML-N, were among the 47 nominated and 100 unidentified people booked on Tuesday for protesting against irrigation water theft at Bahadurpur Chowk of the National Highway the other day.

Those booked included PPP MPA Mumtaz Ahmad Chang, PML-N MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Arshad, three former PML-N MPAs Mehmoodul Hassan Cheema, Mian Islam Aslam and Chaudhry Shauket Dawood, Kissan Bachao Tehreek (KBT) president Naseer Warraich, KBT general secretary Anees Iqbal, Anjuman Kashtkaran president Chaudhry Yasin, Kissan Board president Riaz Ahmad Cheema and PML-N MPA’s son Azhar Shafiq.

According to the first information report, the suspects were involved in the criminal activity of blocking the national highway for several hours, misuse of loudspeaker against the government, use of sticks and bamboos for making the motorists hostage in their vehicles and spreading rumours against the administration.

Sadiqabad Saddar police registered a case against them on alleged violation of Section 144 and various other sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, Punjab Sound System (Regulation) Act 2015 and 16 Maintenance of Public Order.

The spokesperson for the police, Zeeshan Mehmood Randhawa, told Dawn the police had arrested some of the suspects but their names would be disclosed later.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2018