The case was filed on Wednesday at the Saddar Bairuni police station after PTI backers and Imran Khan’s family members rallied outside the prison on Tuesday. The sit-in was organized after authorities prevented Khan’s sisters and legal representatives from meeting him, despite a court ruling allowing those visits.

 

 

The initial report states that the case involves Sections 7 and 21(i) of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, along with several provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code. Those implicated include Aleema Khan, Dr. Uzma Khan, and Noreen Niazi, as well as PTI leaders Salman Akram Raja, Aliya Hamza, and Qasim Khan. The FIR also includes 35 named suspects and around 400 unnamed individuals.

 

 

According to police, the protesters held the sit-in on Kacheri Road near Adiala Jail despite imposed restrictions under Section 144. The FIR, lodged on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Muhammad Imran, claims that protesters assaulted police officers, vandalized a police vehicle, and threw stones and petrol bombs intending to harm officers. It also asserts that batons were used during the clash and that a fire was ignited on the road.

 

 

The FIR indicates that protestors obstructed the road, yelled slogans, and created disturbances for the public. Police officials stated they tried to negotiate with the crowd and requested them to vacate the premises. When instructed to disperse, the protesters reportedly resisted and attacked police personnel. The report notes that approximately 200 individuals managed to escape during the chaos but could be identified later.

 

 

Law enforcement said that 14 suspects mentioned in the FIR were apprehended at the site and presented before an anti-terrorism court. The court approved a three-day physical remand, allowing police to continue their investigation. Authorities mentioned that more arrests are anticipated once the remaining suspects are identified.

 

 

On Wednesday, police cleared protestors near the Factory Checkpost and outside Adiala Jail. Anti-riot units were summoned, and water cannons were employed to clear the crowd. Police indicated that confrontations erupted when protesters refused to leave.

 

 

PTI, however, rejected the police version and condemned the use of force against protesters. In a statement, the party accused the Punjab police of using water cannons containing chemical irritants during the operation, saying women and senior party leaders were present at the sit-in.

 

 

The party’s Central Media Department criticised the registration of terrorism charges against protesters and alleged that the use of force was aimed at preventing court-ordered meetings between Imran Khan and his family and lawyers. PTI said Tuesdays were reserved for such meetings under court orders, but Khan’s sisters and legal counsel were again stopped outside the jail.

 

 

PTI also alleged that the authorities were acting in violation of Islamabad High Court directives by repeatedly denying access to Khan, calling it a breach of constitutional and legal obligations.

 

 

Amnesty International expressed apprehension about the situation, calling on authorities to facilitate Imran Khan’s access to his family and legal representation in accordance with international human rights law. The organization noted that water cannons were deployed to disperse the sit-in in cold weather and mentioned accusations that chemical irritants were mixed with the water.