Almost 2,000 People Have Been Arrested In Connection With Anti-ECP Protests

ISLAMABAD: In connection with Saturday's protests against the Election Commission of Pakistan's judgment to reject former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Dawn has learned that at least 7 cases have been confirmed against more than 1,900 offenders, including senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), on multiple charges that include terrorism.

Cases filed against the party establishment at the Secretariat, Industrial Area, Shahzad Town, Sihala, Sangjani, Khanna, and Bhara Kahu police stations allege that they blocked roads, attacked police officers, and destroyed public and private property.

Industrial Area police have charged eight people and named 1,200 other PTI activists with 7ATA and other costs for pelting police and FC staff with stones in Faizabad.

On the objection of PML-N leader Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, Secretariat police charged former Prime Minister Imran Khan and an amount of PTI leaders under sections 109, 148, 149, 324, & 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).  These individuals are also charged with attempting to run over police officers with their cars and setting fire to trees.

Similarly, Sangjani police have charged six people and named another 100 under 7ATA and other sections of the PPC for blocking the Srinagar Highway and attacking police officers at the request of Imran Khan, Asad Umar, Ali Nawaz Awan, and others.

Meanwhile, the instance at Shahzad Town police station named six people, along with 150 others, for obstructing Taramri chowk, carrying weapons with batons and iron rods, and torching tires. In the case at Sihala police station, 11 people were nominated, along with 100 others, for blocking the GT Road, whereas Khanna police nominated 15 people, along with 250 other activists, for an armed grouping at Iqbal Town, where they obstructed the Islamabad Freeway and attacked the police party.

The instance at Bhara Kahu police station named 29 people and 235 others for obstructing Athal Chowk with an armed mob & threatening police officers.

Furthermore, after a terrorism case was filed against PTI legislator Saleh Mohammad Khan Swati of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two of his personal guards at the Secretariat Police Station late Friday night, Islamabad police later shared a photo of the MNA standing in front of a police station. The photo goes viral just minutes after the post.

According to sources, police typically photograph habitual criminals and those involved in heinous crimes such as robbery and terrorism as part of the Criminal Record Office (CRO) profiling process. According to Dawn, many senior officers expressed their displeasure with the photo being made public.

The MNA and his two bodyguards were later brought before a court of law and imprisoned on judicial remand. Separately, capital police have charged former responsibility czar Mirza Shahzad Akbar, FIA The case was opened at the Secretary general police station in the wake of a complaint filed by Ms. Mirza's ex-husband, Umar Farooq Zahoor. officials, and model Sophia Mirza with conspiracy, forgery, and fraud.