LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday declared 30 PTI activists proclaimed offenders (POs) in the Jinnah House case and attached the properties of seven absconding leaders of the party in Shadman police station attack case during May 9 riots.

The investigating officer of the Sarwar Road police station filed an application with the court requesting to declare 30 suspects POs in the Jinnah House attack case.

The IO said despite hectic efforts by the police, the suspects could not be arrested as they went into hiding for fear of arrest. He said non-bailable arrest warrants had also already been issued against the suspects but they failed to surrender to the law.

He asked the court to start proceedings to declare the suspects POs.

Judge Naveed Iqbal allowed the application and declared the suspects POs in the case under Section 87 of CrPC with a direction to the police to initiate the proceedings under Section 88 to attach the properties of the absconders.

Attach properties of seven others

Separately, Judge Iqbal approved the attachment of the moveable and immovable properties of seven PTI leaders who had already been declared POs in the Shadman police station attack and burning case.

The leaders include Murad Saeed, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Zubair Khan Niazi, Hammad Azhar, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Musarrat Iqbal Cheema and Hassaan Khan Niazi.

ASKARI TOWER: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday directed the prosecution to distribute copies of the challan (investigation report) to suspects in the Askari Tower attack case.

Earlier, the police brought PTI-Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid, former governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Senator Ijaz Chaudhry and 62 other suspects to the court from jail.

The court is likely to indict the suspects on Feb 24.

Talking to reporters, Dr Yasmin said the PML-N first plundered the public money and now looted their mandate. She said the people announced their verdict on Feb 8, and the PML-N should respect the vote now.

“I want to say to the PML-N, have some shame and decency,” she added.

She warned those who got votes in the name of the PTI’s founder, saying the nation would not forgive them if they betray the voters.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2024