Speaker Sadiq summons IG, SSP over PTI leaders’ arrests; Barrister Gohar released

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday summoned Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and the senior superintendent of police (SSP) for arresting PTI leaders within the jurisdiction of the parliament.

At least 12 PTI MNAs were arrested in addition to another party leader since last night as law enforcement agencies whisked away key leaders from various parts of Islamabad, including the Parliament House.

According to a parliamentary rule, police have to inform the National Assembly speaker before arresting any MNA, but the law enforcers did not seek permission from the custodian of the house before arresting the MNAs.

Consequently, the speaker summoned IGP Rizvi and the senior superintendent of police (SSP).

Earlier today, in a fiery speech on the floor of the lower house, PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan, who appeared emotionally charged, lambasted the arrests of his fellow party leaders.

Addressing the speaker, Khan said: “Your colleagues Sahibzada [Hamid Raza], Shafqat [Awan], Amir Dogar, Shiekh Waqar [Akram] and Maulana Naseem were seeking shelter in this parliament last night [when they were arrested]. Maulana Naseem was picked up from a mosque.

The speaker, in response, said that he had requested the videos from all the exit points of the parliament so that “we can assign responsibility accordingly”.

“If whatever my colleagues are saying happened in the parliament then we have to take action against that,” the speaker said, adding that he would not sit quietly.

He added that — if he had to — he would file the first information report (FIR) against the arrests himself.

“We have to take it up seriously and this is not going to be something we’d take lightly” he reaffirmed.

Arrests ‘attack on parliament’: Barrister Gohar

Meanwhile, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan — who was arrested a day prior — was released on Tuesday evening.

“We think that [the arrests] were an attack on parliament,” he said while speaking to reporters in Islamabad following his release. “We believe that, God willing, the NA speaker will go to the depth of the matter.”

Calling September 9 “a black day for Pakistan” due to the arrests, he said that the country will not forget this.

“PTI will not forget this”, he said. “This time, CCTV footage will be disclosed and this time, the common person will not be punished.”

He added that PTI was targeted by the government but for the sake of the country, people, and democracy, “our leaders forgave that”.

“Our election result was changed but we didn’t go for a rally, we didn’t resort to a boycott,” Gohar said. “We stayed in parliament so we could play our role and we did so.”

The PTI chairman went on to say that if the “largest political party” was not given space, then non-political elements would get stronger.

“Extremist and separatist movements will get stronger,” Gohar added.

‘Not a crime’ to exceed time limit for a rally

PTI chairman questioned whether it was a crime to prolong a rally beyond its allotted time.

“I only want to question that if the programme was supposed to end at 7pm, is this a programme for a wedding that you shut off the lights?” he said.

“Under which constitution of the world does it say that if you finish a programme at 8:30pm instead of 7pm, you would have FIRs registered against you […] your MNAs will be picked up,” Gohar said.

According to the police, the local administration had designated a timeframe for the rally, but as it exceeded the hours, the police had to attempt to disperse the supporters, which led to clashes and the ultimate use of tear gas shelling.

Police added that by exceeding the timeframe, the rally organisers had violated the rules and regulations detailed in the no-objection certificate (NOC) issued to the party. Thus, the Islamabad DC ordered police to disperse the attendees, instructing police and the administration to take strict action.

According to a notification dated September 8, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the designated meeting time was from 4pm to 7pm. Rally organisers were informed of the timing at 6pm, the notification read.

PTI leaders, 60 others booked in terrorism case over Sangjani clashes

Police officials had told Dawn.com that at least three cases were registered against PTI supporters and leaders at Sangjani and Noon police stations following Sunday’s rally.

One of the cases at the Noon police station booked “60-70 unidentified persons” along with PTI Islamabad president Aamer Mughal, MNA Zubair, and Shaheen in a terrorism case over “attacking and injuring policemen”, it emerged today.

The first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, had been registered on Sunday night on the complaint of Additional Sub-inspector Tansar Iqbal.

It invoked sections 324 (attempt to commit qatl-i-amd), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant), 341 (wrongful restraint), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt) 395 (dacoity), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence) and 109 (punishment of abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code and section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

According to the FIR, a mob of 60-70 people “armed with canes, sharp stones, iron rods and with PTI flags in their hands” was led by Zubair and blocked the Tarnol Bridge.

It added that upon inquiring from the mob, they said they had orders from Shaheen and Mughal to block the road and force the police to leave the spot.

The mob attacked the police with canes and stones, injuring six cops, who were now undergoing treatment at a hospital, the FIR said. It added that the mob also stole anti-riot gear from four policemen and broke the windows of a government vehicle.

The FIR stated that while the mob dispersed when the police deployed “ordinary teargas”, three persons were identified who were “close to Aamer Mughal” — namely Saud Iftikhar, Mohammad Arif, and Mohammad Atif Gulzar.

The complaint asserted that the mob’s aim was to “achieve its political aim by spreading fear and terror among the public and the law enforcement agencies”.