ISLAMABAD: In response to recent events involving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership, Islamabad police have established a five-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe a terrorism case registered against PTI members following a September 8 public gathering.
The investigation comes in the wake of the police rounding up several PTI leaders, including chief Gohar Ali Khan, after the rally. Notably, plainclothes officers allegedly breached Parliament House to detain PTI members seeking refuge there.
This incident prompted the National Assembly Secretariat to direct the interior ministry to investigate the arrest of MNAs from Parliament, which was deemed a violation of parliamentary rules.
The terrorism case under investigation includes violations of the newly enacted ‘Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024’ and various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The FIR accuses several prominent PTI leaders and allies, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and others, of assaulting and threatening police and magistrate officials who were enforcing the law during the gathering.
The special team, which comprises SSP Investigation Arsalan Shahzaib, SP Sadar Khan Zaib, and other officers, is tasked with investigating the case and apprehending the suspects. The team is required to submit a progress report every two days to the Islamabad police chief.
In addition to the initial five cases, two more cases have emerged against PTI leaders at Sangjani and Ramna police stations. These cases involve accusations of violence and obstruction during the ongoing legal proceedings against PTI members.
The National Assembly has expressed serious concern over the breach of parliamentary sanctity and has called for a thorough investigation into the incident. The NA speaker has directed that a detailed report be submitted within seven days and has emphasized that any negligence should be met with appropriate disciplinary action.
Sources indicate that while senior officials oversaw the operation, junior officials may be held responsible, with claims that the NA speaker was not informed of the arrests.
