An anti-terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday issued arrest warrant that was not joined, for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in connection with a case involving violence against police during a Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) protest held in Lahore on October 5.
ATC also issued arrest warrants for three other PTI leaders – Hammad Azhar, Saeed Sindhu and Shehbaz Ahmed – not to participate in the investigation despite repeated police calls.
Police said the named persons were in demand in cases related to the last year’s 5th October Protest, where PTI workers allegedly attacked law enforcement staff.
According to police officers, the PTI leaders had been nominated in several fours and were called on several occasions to participate in the investigation, but failed to comply.
On September 30, PTI Founder Imran Khan called a number of protests in support of the judiciary and against the proposed court package that started in Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Mianwali on October 2nd.
The imprisoned PTI founding chairman had also announced that the PTI workers would gather on Islamabad’s D-Chowk on October 4 and in Lahores Minar-E-Pakistan on October 5.
During these protests, especially in Lahore and Islamabad, the situation was tense when violent clashes took place between political supporters and police officers.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on October 5 said that more than 80 police personnel had been wounded in clashes with supporters of the prisoner former Prime Minister Khan and participated in a march near Islamabad.
On the other hand, Lahore witnessed intense clashes between PTI activists and police as political turmoil escalated over the metropolis.
The confrontations left dozens wounded, both protesters and police personnel. Ulisten, triggered by a PTI-led protest, quickly intensified as law enforcement used tear gas to spread protesters in several key spaces, including Awan-E-Adal, Badami Bagh and Sheranwala Gate. Despite a heavy police presence, many protesters opposed efforts to clear the areas.
