By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Police have booked former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur over a policeman death in last week’s protests, with authorities alleging Khan orchestrated the violence from behind bars.
The complaint, filed over the weekend, accuses Khan and Gandapur of using provincial government resources to support protesters and ordering them to attack security personnel.
“Imran Khan has been given unusual contact and meeting facilities outside the jail manual due to which he continues to incite his political workers to violence against the state and its institutions,” the police complaint read.
Hundreds of PTI activists, including senior leaders and Khan’s two sisters, had gathered at multiple locations in the capital on Satuerday and Sunday, defying heavy police blockades and road closures, while authorities dug trenches and placed iron nails on a stretch of the Islamabad-Peshawar motorway to prevent protesters from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from reaching the capital.
Despite the placing of hundreds of containers to secure entry points and key areas across the capital and the imposition of Section 144, demonstrators managed to converge at various sites, including the edge of the high-security Red Zone, at D-Chowk.
Clashes erupted at various places as police tried to stop Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party supporters from entering Islamabad, with officials accusing protesters of throwing stones, firing bullets and launching tear gas shells, causing dozens of injuries and one death.
“He (Khan) directs the PTI to lead such violent crowds that could create chaos and disorder in the country,” police complaint added. “Acting on these orders, Ali Amin Gandapur, using provincial government resources, provided support and directly and indirectly led the protesters, ordering them to reach D-Chowk [in Islamabad for protest] and attack or kill any security personnel who stood in their way to free Imran Khan.”
The complaint also names PTI leaders Omar Ayub, Azam Swati, and Islamabad president Aamir Mughal, accusing them of inciting or participating in the violent protests.
“Aamir Mughal, along with other participants, forcibly grabbed Constable Abdul Hameed and assaulted him with kicks, punches, sticks and stones,” it said. The constable Hameed was “kidnapped” and tortured and was later found unconscious by his colleagues but succumbed to his injuries.
The FIRs also mentioned the protesters allegedly lobbed petrol bombs, besides hurling stones and marbles and opening fire on police. “The PTI supporters and the CM’s gunmen injured 26 cops, while protesters equipped with tear gas guns, rods and sticks refused to disperse despite being informed that Section 144 was in effect.”
Police detained over 100 PTI supporters, including Khan’s two sisters, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan. An Islamabad court granted police two more days to question the sisters.
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