Imran Khan’s arrest sparked violence

The violence continued throughout the night, with PTI protesters storming the Prime Minister’s residence and the PML-N Secretariat in Model Town. The protesters installed a walk-through gate at the gate and torched four motorcycles. When the police fired teargas shells to stop them from going to the Prime Minister’s residence, PTI workers set fire to the rear of the Pakistani Prime Minister’s residence. They also stormed the gate, burnt the Rangers’ car, and pelted stones heavily. The police dispersed the protesters by shelling again. The protesters broke generators, two transformers, and walk-through gate security cameras. Two Edhi Ambulances of Edhi Foundation were also damaged due to burning and pelting.

According to the Edhi spokesperson, two protesters were killed due to stones and shelling during the protest. The deceased include 25-year-old Abdul Qadeer and a 35-year-old unidentified worker. In Lahore, police registered five cases against the protestors in different divisions. The cases include terrorism, arson and vandalism, damage to government property, and other serious crimes. Local leadership of Imran Khan PTI, including Hamad Azhar and 80 unknown persons, were named in the cases. So far, 70 protesters have been arrested.

In Rawalpindi, seven cases will be registered against hundreds of PTI workers participating in violent protests, including the attack on GHQ in Rawalpindi. The leading leaders of Tehreek-e-Insaf went into hiding, 52 activists were sent to jail on judicial remand, and former provincial law minister Raja Basharat was named in the FIR of the attack on GHQ. All cases include anti-terrorism provisions. In other cases, former provincial minister Fayyazul Hasan Chauhan is also nominated. One hundred twenty activists arrested in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were transferred to Adiala Jail, out of which 35 were released.

The violence was not limited to Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar; similar protests and clashes occurred in Faisalabad, Sahiwal, and Pakpattan. More than 800 workers of Tehreek-e-Insaaf were charged with terrorism, injuring 23 officials by blocking the road, attacking sensitive institutions and the offices and tents of the Federal Minister of Interior in Faisalabad, setting fire to 16 MPO, interfering in official work, and driving official vehicles.