An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad handed over on Friday more than 30 Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) workers to the police for 14-day physical remand in connection with recent demonstrations by the religio-political party across Punjab.
Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain accepted the investigation officer’s (IO) request for 14-day physical remand for identification parade.
The detained suspects are accused of damaging public property and violent rioting in different cities across Punjab.
Another an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday approved an eight-day physical remand of eight Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) workers in a terrorism case.
The accused were produced before ATC Judge Irfan Haider, where the investigating officer Muhammad Siddique sought a 30-day remand for interrogation. However, the court granted an eight-day physical remand and directed police to produce the suspects again on October 25.
According to police, a terrorism case has been registered against the accused at Nawab Town Police Station. The suspects – Muhammad Ramzan, Zahoor Ahmad, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Younas, Riasat Ali, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Rizwan, and Muhammad Naveed – are allegedly involved in attacking police personnel and setting property on fire during recent violent protests.
Moreover, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday granted a 10-day physical remand of 11 Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) workers and handed them over to police for investigation.
Duty Judge Irfan Haider conducted the hearing, during which the police presented the accused before the court. Investigating Officer Muhammad Alam requested a 30-day physical remand for interrogation.
After examining the case record, the court approved a 10-day remand instead of the requested 30 days.
According to police, the accused – including Muhammad Riaz, Muhammad Hassan, Muhammad Tariq, Ghulam Murtaza, Usman Ilyas, and Ilahi Ahmad – have been booked under terrorism charges at Baghbanpura Police Station.The suspects are accused of attacking police personnel and being involved in rioting and arson during recent protests.
The governments in Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) have launched a crackdown against TLP, sealing several of the party’s offices and seminaries in the past week.
Ahead of TLP’s anti-Israel rally planned for October 10 outside the US Embassy in Islamabad, the police had raided the party’s offices in a bid to arrest TLP chief Saad Rizvi. Mobile data services were suspended and most of the city was blocked using containers last Friday.
The party was not granted permission to hold the rally.
The initial raid was met with resistance from TLP workers and clashes ensued along Multan Road. The situation worsened on Friday, and in the following days, with TLP workers rioting in different cities across Punjab and attempting to do the same in Karachi.
Apart from legal action and mass arrests, the Punjab government is pushing for a complete ban on the political party. The province has submitted its recommendation to the Centre in this regard.