PTI Chairman Gohar Khan and Lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat Arrested in Islamabad
On Monday, the police in Islamabad, Pakistan, arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat outside the Parliament House. The arrests were made for allegedly violating the newly-enacted public gathering law during a PTI power show in Islamabad.
More Arrests Expected
The Islamabad police announced that PTI leaders Omar Ayub Khan and Zartaj Gul Wazir would also be arrested. Sher Afzal Marwat resisted the arrest and demanded to see the arrest warrant. Heavy police contingents were deployed outside the parliament, and all entry and exit routes to the Red Zone were shut except for Margala Road.
Other Arrests and Actions
PTI Member of National Assembly Ali Muhammad Khan was not arrested when he left the parliament. Marwat was arrested for violating the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024, and clashing with police personnel. Other PTI lawmakers, including Zain Qureshi, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Naseem-ur-Rehman, Zubair Khan, and Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, were also arrested from the Parliament House.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur left for Peshawar from Islamabad. The Islamabad police are expected to launch a crackdown against PTI’s Punjab leaders who participated in the power show. Shoaib Shaheen was arrested from his residence, and cases were registered against several PTI leaders under the new law.
Clashes During the Rally
According to the first information report (FIR), PTI workers attacked police teams with batons and stones when officers tried to stop them from violating the rally’s route. The police used tear gas and batons to control the situation, arresting 17 people at the scene. The PTI rally in Islamabad led to clashes between party workers and police on Chungi No 26, on the outskirts of Islamabad.
The New Law
The Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024, was passed through the Senate and the National Assembly amid opposition protests. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari signed the bill into law a day before the PTI rally. The new law gives local authorities in Islamabad more power to control public gatherings, including the ability to ban assemblies and impose punishments of up to three years in prison or fines. Repeat offenders could face up to 10 years in prison.
The law allows the district magistrate to regulate and ban public assemblies, and police officers can command any assembly likely to disturb public peace to disperse.
Doubts Revealed
PTI -: PTI stands for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which is a political party in Pakistan.
Chairman -: A chairman is the leader or head of an organization or group.
Barrister -: A barrister is a type of lawyer who can represent clients in higher courts.
Lawmaker -: A lawmaker is a person who is part of the government and helps make laws.
Islamabad -: Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan.
Public gathering law -: A public gathering law is a rule that controls how and when people can gather in public places.
Rally -: A rally is a large public meeting, often held to show support for a cause or political party.
Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024 -: This is a new law in Pakistan that gives more power to local authorities to control public gatherings.
President Asif Ali Zardari -: Asif Ali Zardari is a politician who was the President of Pakistan.
Clashes -: Clashes are fights or conflicts between groups of people.