Police in Lahore on Thursday booked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan and 400 others on charges of murder and terrorism during clashes with policemen during a party rally that left one worker dead and hundreds injured. were injured.
This is the 80th case registered against the ousted Prime Minister Khan by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government during his 11-month rule.
Watch: Pakistan police used water cannon, tear gas on Imran Khan’s supporters
Police on Wednesday allegedly killed PTI activist Ali Bilal and injured over a dozen during a crackdown outside Khan’s residence from where he was about to take out a pro-judiciary rally.
The police also arrested over 100 PTI workers.
The FIR states that 11 police officers were injured in the clash with stone-pelting PTI workers.
The FIR states that six PTI workers also suffered injuries.
Senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhary said on Thursday that instead of registering an FIR for the murder of a PTI worker against policemen and his bosses on the complaint of his family, the police have booked 70-year-old Khan and 400 others for his murder. .
Fawad Chaudhary, Farooq Habib, Hammad Azhar and Mahmudur Rashid are among other PTI leaders named in the FIR.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran uploaded the brutal torture of PTI workers on social media and said: “This is what the corrupt and murderous gang of miscreants have done to the country. They violated our Constitution, fundamental rights and the rule of law.” Is.” Innocent, unarmed PTI workers, including women, were the target of police violence and brutality, while one worker was killed in custody.”
The ousted premier asked party supporters across the country to offer funeral prayers in the absence of the slain activist.
PTI had announced that it would file a murder case against caretaker Punjab chief minister Mohsin Naqvi, interior minister Rana Sanaullah, Punjab IGP Usman Anwar and Lahore police chief Bilal Saddiqui Kamyana.
Meanwhile, the Punjab IGP has constituted a two-member committee to probe the police clash with PTI workers outside Zaman Park.
Police fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse PTI workers on Wednesday.
The party claimed that its “peaceful” activists were arrested after reports emerged that the provincial capital had been placed under Section 144, which bans public gatherings.
After bloody clashes between the police and his party workers, Khan kicked off the party’s “pro-judiciary” rally from his Zaman Park residence to Data Darbar.
Khan said that the government wanted an excuse to postpone elections in Punjab and for this it needed dead bodies. “The police have picked up 100 of our workers. We will not let the government and its handlers succeed in their nefarious designs,” he said.
Read also: ‘Could have contacted..’: Islamabad court on Imran Khan’s plea to suspend warrant in Toshakhana case
Last Sunday, the police failed to arrest Khan mainly because of protests by PTI workers in large numbers outside his residence.
Khan has been in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch, which he obtained as a premier at a discounted price from a state depository called Toshakhana, and selling them for a profit.
As per the order of the Supreme Court, President Dr. Arif Alvi has announced April 30 for elections in Punjab. The PML-N-led ruling coalition at the Center has openly declared that elections will not be held.
The caretaker government of Punjab has banned public meetings in Lahore.
