KARACHI: A local court on Monday indicted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Dr Arif Alvi and three MPAs Khurram Sheir Zaman, Samar Ali Khan and Dr Seema Zai and others in a case registered against them pertaining to rioting during a protest demonstration at the Cantonment Board Clifton’s office. Dr Arif Alvi, a party MNA from the NA-250 (Clifton-Defence) constituency, three MPAs – Samar Ali Khan, the leader of the parliamentary party of the PTI in the Sindh Assembly, Khurram Sherzaman, Dr Seema Zia – and some other protesters were nominated in a case (FIR 146/2017) registered on a complaint of a CBC official at the Darakshan police station. The PTI leaders were nominated under Sections 147 (rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code. On Monday, a local court heard the case. The judge read out the charge sheet to the accused who pleaded not-guilty and opted to contest the charges. Upon this, the court sought prosecution witnesses for next hearing. It is to be mentioned here that the PTI leaders, with residents of Clifton and Defence, had staged a protest demonstration outside the CBC office on Friday against the imposition of a new tax on supply of water through tankers. The complainant in the FIR alleged that the PTI leaders stormed the CBC office by breaking open the main gate and then “deliberately” damaged the doors of the office building. Published in Daily Times, August 29th 2017.