Imran, Gandapur booked over cop’s death in PTI protest

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and others Tuesday were booked in a new case linked to the death of an Islamabad policeman during the party’s latest protest in the federal capital.

The PTI leaders have been charged under 12 sections, including attempted murder, arson, attack on the state and violence against police personnel. Other party politicians nominated in the case include Azam Swati, Omar Ayub, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, PTI Islamabad President Aamir Mughal, Malik Hafeez Ur Rehman Tipu and 400 other unidentified individuals.

The case was registered on the state’s behalf at the Noon Police Station in Islamabad after the death of Constable Abdul Hameed on Sunday. The cop was allegedly attacked by miscreants during PTI’s D Chowk protest while he was performing his duty at the Chungi Number 26 on GT Road on October 4.

The cop was reportedly subjected to violence after being “kidnapped” and later succumbed to his injuries. As per the case, the policeman was tortured by the protestors at the behest of PTI leaders, including Khan and Gandapur.

“The protesters attacked the policemen with sticks, stones and iron rods. The protesters tore the uniforms of policemen,” reads the content of the first information report (FIR), Geo News reported. It further adds that the protesters also fired at the policemen, shelled tear gas, injured them and also set government and public property ablaze. “Protesters raised slogans against the government and the state,” the FIR stated. The former premier and 105 others are nominated in another similar case, registered on October 6.

Meanwhile, a preliminary report of damage to public and private property during the PTI protest has been prepared. The IG office sent the report to the chief commissioner, Islamabad. It said over Rs240 million worth of losses were incurred during the PTI protest. Over 441 Safe City cameras worth Rs145 million, 10 police vehicles, 31 motorcycles and 51 gas masks were damaged. The protesters also damaged three private vehicles and a crane, while a policeman was martyred and 31 were injured.