Thirty-one activists of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have been booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for inciting violence and planning protests against Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. The cases were registered in three cities of Punjab. These include Rawalpindi, Toba Tek Singh, and Sahiwal.
In Rawalpindi, the Airport Police Station registered a case against 28 people. Sub-Inspector Ijaz Hussain Ghuman reported this incident. He stated he was on night patrol on High Court Road. He received information about a gathering at Jamia Ziaul Aloom in Eastridge Housing Society. This madressah is run by Syed Inayatul Haq Sultanpuri.
The FIR named several suspects. These include Mufti Umair, Dr. Shafiq Amin, Allama Muhammad Shafiq Qadri, Chaudhry Rizwan Ahmad Safi, Pir Syed Irfan Hameed Shah, Allama Rub Nawaz Farooqi, and Advocate Chaudhry Taimoor. They were allegedly planning protests and processions against the Chief Justice across the country.
The report also alleged that these suspects made speeches against the top judge. They spread religious hatred and hatched a criminal conspiracy. A detective foot constable (DFC), Amir Hameed, confirmed this meeting. He was in the gathering in plain clothes. The students at the madressah boarded various vehicles. They appeared near the high court building and blocked the road.
Around 15 to 20 protesters carried weapons. However, the police managed to restore traffic. No arrests have been made so far.
In Toba Tek Singh, an FIR was filed against TLP Toba emir Mohsin Raza. Inspector Muhammad Yasin filed the complaint. Raza led a rally of 60 TLP activists outside the district press club on Jhang Road on July 28. He incited violence against the Chief Justice. Police conducted raids to arrest Raza in his hometown of Gojra but failed. Reports suggest police arrested some of his relatives to pressure his family to hand him over.
Saddar police of Pakpattan and Dera Rahim police of Sahiwal also booked two persons. They were supporting TLP vice-emir Syed Zaheerul Hasan, who issued threats to the Chief Justice. Pakpattan police booked Abdur Rehman, a resident of Abadi Aslamabad. Sahiwal police registered a case against Muhammad Ijaz Rizvi, a resident of Chak 143/9-L, tehsil Chichawatni.
The TLP has held several gatherings across the country. They are protesting against the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Mubarak Sani case. The court recently reviewed this judgment based on a plea filed by the Punjab government.
