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LAHORE: The Punjab police are reported to have arrested hundreds of more leaders and workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party who were wanted in cases lodged against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act following for their alleged involvement in May 9 violence.
The arrests were made all over the province for carrying out attacks on the Corps Commander House in Lahore, public and private buildings, law enforcement agencies, and their vehicles. According to reports, most of the arrests were made through CCTV cameras of the Safe City Authority and other video recordings from mobile phones and private cameras.
Since May 9, the Punjab police have lodged 205 cases across the province against the party leaders and workers. On Thursday night, a brief scuffle broke out between the police and PTI workers when the police stormed the party’s office at Jail Road to arrest workers nominated in the cases registered by various police stations. The party workers pelted the police with stones but fled when more police force was called for support.
On Friday evening, the police deployment was increased around the residence of PTI Chairman Imran Khan at Zaman Park following reports that workers were gathering there in large numbers to welcome him after court relief. Meanwhile, tension mounted in Faisalabad when the lawyers community condemned the police raid at the office of the district bar for the arrest of former provincial minister Ali Afzal Sahi. The lawyers warned of strong agitation and reaction and demanded action against the police.
To defuse tension, the Punjab government made the Faisalabad SSP Operations officer on special duty who was leading the police raid. The situation remains tense as the police continue to crack down on PTI workers wanted in cases lodged against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
