Sedition cases against Nawaz, others: Lahore police clarify

LAHORE: A day after the PTI government distanced itself from the registration of a sedition case against Nawaz Sharif and PML-N top leadership, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, the city police have also come up with a clarification that the case was not registered on the behest of state or its any institution but on the application of a ‘private citizen’.

According to a statement attributing to the spokesperson of Lahore Capital City Police, “different speculations were being made in the media but in reality, this case was registered on the request of a citizen, Badar Rasheed”. It claimed that the case against PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and other party leaders was registered on the complaint of a private citizen, not the state or its institutions.

“The Shahdara police acted according to the rules and registered a case under the applicable sections of the law based on the request. This case is being investigated on merit keeping in view all legal aspects,” it said, adding that action will only be taken against the person or persons proved to have committed a crime. Dispensation of justice will be ensured at any cost in the case,” the statement reads.

On the other hand, the police sources confirmed that Badar was associated with the PTI leadership and he had also contested an election for Union Council chairman on the party’s ticket. They said he was wanted to police in multiple cases related to attempted murder, possession of illegal weapons and interference in government matters.

According to the sources, the “private complainant” had also served as the president of the PTI’s youth wing in Ravi Town. However, the PTI ministers rejected reports that Badar was associated with the party after his pictures with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar went viral on social media. The governor in a statement also denied having any connection with Rasheed and said the meeting was a “routine” matter as “hundreds of people visit Governor House on daily basis”.

Reacting to the assertion of police that it acted on the complaint of “private citizen”, PML-N Punjab Information Secretary Uzma Bukhari claimed that the registration of the FIR was actually ordered by Prime Minister Imran Khan. “No police officer can impose clauses in an FIR without the consent of the government. Specific clauses were added to the FIR on the orders of PM Imran Khan,” said Bukhari while talking to the media. Talking exception to Federal Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s tweets that the premier had no knowledge about lodging of the FIR, Uzma said: “Imran sahib, if you do not know about the orders and powers of the executive, then why you are in the Prime Minister’s House?”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020