Islamabad
\nNational Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday summoned Islamabad\u2019s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and the senior superintendent of police (SSP) for arresting PTI leaders within the jurisdiction of the parliament.
\nAt least 12 PTI MNAs were arrested in addition to another party leader since last night as law enforcement agencies whisked away key leaders from various parts of Islamabad, including the Parliament House.
\nAccording to a parliamentary rule, police have to inform the National Assembly speaker before arresting any MNA, but the law enforcers did not seek permission from the custodian of the house before arresting the MNAs.
\nConsequently, the speaker summoned IGP Rizvi and the senior superintendent of police (SSP).
\nEarlier today, in a fiery speech on the floor of the lower house, PTI\u2019s Ali Muhammad Khan, who appeared emotionally charged, lambasted the arrests of his fellow party leaders.
\nAddressing the speaker, Khan said: \u201cYour colleagues Sahibzada [Hamid Raza], Shafqat [Awan], Amir Dogar, Shiekh Waqar [Akram] and Maulana Naseem were seeking shelter in this parliament last night [when they were arrested]. Maulana Naseem was picked up from a mosque.
\nThe speaker, in response, said that he had requested the videos from all the exit points of the parliament so that \u201cwe can assign responsibility accordingly\u201d.
\n\u201cIf whatever my colleagues are saying happened in the parliament then we have to take action against that,\u201d the speaker said, adding that he would not sit quietly.
\nHe added that \u2014 if he had to \u2014 he would file the first information report (FIR) against the arrests himself.
\n\u201cWe have to take it up seriously and this is not going to be something we\u2019d take lightly\u201d he reaffirmed.
\nArrests \u2018attack on parliament\u2019: Barrister Gohar
\nMeanwhile, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan \u2014 who was arrested a day prior \u2014 was released on Tuesday evening.
\n\u201cWe think that [the arrests] were an attack on parliament,\u201d he said while speaking to reporters in Islamabad following his release. \u201cWe believe that, God willing, the NA speaker will go to the depth of the matter.\u201d
\nCalling September 9 \u201ca black day for Pakistan\u201d due to the arrests, he said that the country will not forget this.
\n\u201cPTI will not forget this\u201d, he said. \u201cThis time, CCTV footage will be disclosed and this time, the common person will not be punished.\u201d
\nHe added that PTI was targeted by the government but for the sake of the country, people, and democracy, \u201cour leaders forgave that\u201d.
\n\u201cOur election result was changed but we didn\u2019t go for a rally, we didn\u2019t resort to a boycott,\u201d Gohar said. \u201cWe stayed in parliament so we could play our role and we did so.\u201d
\nThe PTI chairman went on to say that if the \u201clargest political party\u201d was not given space, then non-political elements would get stronger.
\n\u201cExtremist and separatist movements will get stronger,\u201d Gohar added.
\n\u2018Not a crime\u2019 to exceed time limit for a rally
\nPTI chairman questioned whether it was a crime to prolong a rally beyond its allotted time.
\n\u201cI only want to question that if the programme was supposed to end at 7pm, is this a programme for a wedding that you shut off the lights?\u201d he said.
\n\u201cUnder which constitution of the world does it say that if you finish a programme at 8:30pm instead of 7pm, you would have FIRs registered against you [\u2026] your MNAs will be picked up,\u201d Gohar said.
\nAccording to the police, the local administration had designated a timeframe for the rally, but as it exceeded the hours, the police had to attempt to disperse the supporters, which led to clashes and the ultimate use of tear gas shelling.
\nPolice added that by exceeding the timeframe, the rally organisers had violated the rules and regulations detailed in the no-objection certificate (NOC) issued to the party. Thus, the Islamabad DC ordered police to disperse the attendees, instructing police and the administration to take strict action.
\nAccording to a notification dated September 8, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the designated meeting time was from 4pm to 7pm. Rally organisers were informed of the timing at 6pm, the notification read.<\/p>\n
PTI leaders, 60 others booked in terrorism case over Sangjani clashes
\nPolice officials had told Dawn.com that at least three cases were registered against PTI supporters and leaders at Sangjani and Noon police stations following Sunday\u2019s rally.
\nOne of the cases at the Noon police station booked \u201c60-70 unidentified persons\u201d along with PTI Islamabad president Aamer Mughal, MNA Zubair, and Shaheen in a terrorism case over \u201cattacking and injuring policemen\u201d, it emerged today.
\nThe first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, had been registered on Sunday night on the complaint of Additional Sub-inspector Tansar Iqbal.
\nIt invoked sections 324 (attempt to commit qatl-i-amd), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant), 341 (wrongful restraint), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt) 395 (dacoity), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence) and 109 (punishment of abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code and section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
\nAccording to the FIR, a mob of 60-70 people \u201carmed with canes, sharp stones, iron rods and with PTI flags in their hands\u201d was led by Zubair and blocked the Tarnol Bridge.
\nIt added that upon inquiring from the mob, they said they had orders from Shaheen and Mughal to block the road and force the police to leave the spot.
\nThe mob attacked the police with canes and stones, injuring six cops, who were now undergoing treatment at a hospital, the FIR said. It added that the mob also stole anti-riot gear from four policemen and broke the windows of a government vehicle.
\nThe FIR stated that while the mob dispersed when the police deployed \u201cordinary teargas\u201d, three persons were identified who were \u201cclose to Aamer Mughal\u201d \u2014 namely Saud Iftikhar, Mohammad Arif, and Mohammad Atif Gulzar.
\nThe complaint asserted that the mob\u2019s aim was to \u201cachieve its political aim by spreading fear and terror among the public and the law enforcement agencies\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday summoned Islamabad\u2019s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and the senior superintendent of police (SSP) for arresting PTI leaders within the jurisdiction of the parliament. At least 12 PTI MNAs were arrested in addition to another party leader since last night as law enforcement […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":412279,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-430409","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n