A Lahore district and sessions court has ordered the registration of cases against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and others against police torture of PTI workers during party’s recently held ‘Azadi March’ towards Islamabad.
According to the details, Advocate Haider Majeed had filed an application in the Lahore sessions court, seeking the registration of cases against the interior minister and Punjab police officials under Section-166(1), 352, and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
After completing the hearing on the application, Additional Sessions Judge Mian Mudasar Umar ordered the registration of criminal cases against Rana Sanaullah, CCPO Lahore and DIG Operations under Section-166, 352, and 427.
breaking news: court orders FIR against Rana Sanaullah , CCPO LAHORE and DIG lahore and SPs and police officials involved in brutal attack on lawyers. #وہ_کون_ہے pic.twitter.com/WoIVHJeiC1
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) June 1, 2022
Pertinent to mention, PTI’s Azadi March on 25th May was marked by police brutality as the police had resorted to tear gas shelling and baton-charged in an effort to disperse PTI activists. As a result, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had come under immense criticism for allowing the police to use extreme force against civilians.
Read more: PTI leader, cancer survivor Yasmeen Rashid mistreated by Punjab Police
“Alhamdolillah the Sessions Court Lahore has ordered to register the first case against Rana Sanaullah and police officials for committing murder, violence against civilians, damage to property, and other crimes in the real freedom march. Inshallah, every abuse will be held accountable,” former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
الحمدللّٰہ راناثناللہ اور پولیس حکام کیخلاف حقیقی آزادی مارچ میں قتل، شہریوں پر تشدد، املاک کو نقصان پہنچانے اور دیگر جرائم کے ارتکاب کے ضمن میں پہلا مقدمہ درج کرنے کا حکم سیشن کورٹ لاہور نے دیا ہے، انشاللہ ہر زیادتی کا حساب ہو گا #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/1zoJf4eeVT
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) June 1, 2022
Rana Sanaullah ready for more violence?
While 25th May’s Azadi March was a violent one, it seems that phase two of the long march will also be chaotic. The Interior Minister had earlier warned PTI that he will not let the protestors cross the barriers this time around.
“I am warning PTI against the announcement of another long march. One thing I want to illustrate, as soon as the long March is announced ‘let them come and I’ll see how they cross the barriers this time’,” Rana Sanaullah tweeted.
I am warning PTI against the announcement of another long march. One thing I want to illustrate, as soon as the long March is announced “let them come and I’ll see how they cross barriers this time.”
— Rana Sana Ullah Khan (@RanaSanaullahPK) May 31, 2022
Wednesday, PTI even approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan against arrests and blockades during the long march and asked the apex court to provide protection against these tactics in the future.
Read more: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah mocked, slammed for threatening PTI