PML-N lawmakers held for anti-judiciary speeches
ISLAMABAD: Police have arrested from Kasur federal and Punjab legislators belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz (PML-N) for allegedly making derogatory speeches against the higher judiciary and “establishment” in a public rally.
Police registered separate cases against Waseem Akhtar Sheikh and Naeem Safdar and 90 PML-N workers for allegedly using abusive language against the Supreme Court and security agencies during rally.
According to police, the PML-N member of the National Assembly was arrested from Kasur when he was trying to escape to Lahore.
He has been shifted to an undisclosed location. The member of the Punjab Assembly, Naeem Safdar Ansari, Chairman of the Tehsil Council Haji Ayaz Ahmed and his deputy Ahmed Lateef surrendered to police.
Sheikh and Ansari organised a rally after the Supreme Court banned ousted premier Nawaz Sharif from contesting elections for life.
The PML-N leaders and workers used abusive language against the apex court and security agencies on April 13.
The rally started from the Shahbaz Khan Road and culminated at Kashmir Chowk and protesters were not more than 100.
The matter was highlighted in the media on which the higher authorities took notice and IGP Punjab Arif Nawaz ordered Kasur District Police Oficer Zahid Nawaz for registration of an FIR against the legislators and other party workers.
Police registered two cases against 90 people and arrested more than 40 people. The cases were registered on the applications of Maj (retd) Habib-ur-rehman and Constable Abdul Rasheed. PML-N local leaders Nasir Mehmood Khan and Jamil Khan were on the forefront in using insulting language against the Supreme Court chief justice and security agencies, who were arrested by the Kasur police on Wednesday.
The DPO said that a team has been constituted under the supervision Superintendent of Police (SP), Investigation, for arresting the remaining accused. He said the order of IGP would be implemented at all costs.
According to Article 19 of the 1973 of constitution, while allowing all citizens freedom of speech, also says that the freedom is “subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan.”