Rawalpindi police book Khan’s sisters along over 400 PTI workers under anti-terror provisions

Rawalpindi: Over 400 Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) activists, including three sisters of the party’s founder Imran Khan, were booked under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 following violent clashes with police on Tuesday.

The FIR, registered on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Muhammad Imran Khan, lists charges including criminal conspiracy, abetment of crime, attempted murder, and violation of Section 144. Police claimed that 300 to 400 PTI workers, led by Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Noreen Khan, gathered on Adiala Road in defiance of the imposed restrictions and began chanting slogans against the government and state institutions.

According to the FIR, police repeatedly attempted to persuade the protesters to disperse to ensure public safety, but the demonstrators resisted, pelting stones at officers and causing injuries to nine personnel. The injured were shifted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital for treatment, while police reported damage to uniforms and equipment during the confrontation.

Law enforcement also seized 13 vehicles abandoned by fleeing protesters, along with 30 litres of petrol, 15 glass bottles, cotton, and 25 sticks, which authorities suspect were intended for use in petrol bombs.

A total of 41 PTI activists were arrested and presented before the court, which granted an eight-day physical remand for further investigation. Police said that around 250 protesters managed to escape during the chaos but could be identified later.

The FIR invoked Section 120B of the PPC, which deals with criminal conspiracy, highlighting that any agreement by two or more people to commit a serious offence carries severe penalties. Officials emphasised that the action against the PTI workers aims to uphold law and order and ensure the safety of the public in Rawalpindi.

The SSP Operation and reinforcement units were called in to control the situation after the protesters blocked the road, causing disruptions to local residents and commuters. Police noted that repeated attempts to reason with the crowd were met with continued aggression, forcing authorities to take decisive action.

This incident marks another escalation in the ongoing tension between PTI supporters and law enforcement, raising concerns over political unrest and the enforcement of public safety measures in the capital region.