Imran Khan and PTI Leaders Face Legal Action Amid Rallies in Lahore
Lahore police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and 200 other leaders, supporters, and lawyers.
The charges include sedition, terrorism, and attempted murder. These actions follow PTI-organized rallies in Lahore over the weekend, which defied Section 144 restrictions imposed by the Punjab government.
The primary FIR, filed at Islampura police station, names the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and senior PTI leaders Hammad Azhar, Musarrat Cheema, Shabbir Gujjar, Ali Ahmad Warraich, Rana Zameer Ahmad Jhedu, and others. They face serious allegations of inciting unrest, making anti-state speeches, and provoking violence against law enforcement.
Police Inspector Anthony Victor, who filed the FIR, alleged that these leaders had met with Imran Khan in jail to plan actions aimed at creating chaos and challenging law and order.
He claimed that Imran Khan encouraged them to incite violence and defy state authority, resulting in injuries to a police officer, Constable Bilal. According to the FIR, PTI leaders and their supporters were armed with weapons and other materials intended to attack the police.
One of the incidents described in the FIR involved Rana Zameer Ahmad Jhedu leading a group of 200 PTI lawyers and workers towards PMG Chowk, where they allegedly made anti-state declarations, including a slogan threatening the country if Imran Khan was not released. The group also reportedly blocked roads and threatened further violence if their demands were not met.
When police attempted to disperse the crowd, citing the enforcement of Section 144, the protestors allegedly responded with stone-pelting, damaged vehicles, and issued threats. The police responded by using tear gas and arrested 16 individuals at the scene.
In addition to the main FIR, further cases have been filed against PTI members for organizing rallies in violation of Section 144. The Hanjarwal and Millat Park police stations both registered cases against PTI workers on similar charges.
While tensions were high in Lahore over the weekend, police removed barricades and containers from key roads on Sunday, helping restore normalcy in most parts of the city. However, security forces remain on high alert to prevent any further violence.
Meanwhile, in Toba Tek Singh, police conducted raids on the homes of several PTI leaders and activists ahead of the party’s scheduled shutter-down call on Monday. While some arrests were made, including Babar Javed Chaudhry from Gojra, other PTI leaders, such as former MPA Saeed Ahmad Saeedi and Khalid Nawaz Sadhraij, were not present during the raids.
Authorities are continuing efforts to maintain order and prevent further unrest as PTI supporters call for nationwide protests.
