Lohari Gate police arrested 33 Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers, a candidate National Assembly on Monday for allegedly defying policemen who raided a corner meeting in Asharafabad and ordered to disperse.
A police team had raided a corner meeting organised by Tariq Rasheed, the PML-N candidate from NA-149, and Malik Anwar Ali, the PP-194 candidate, after being informed that the workers were using loud speakers in violation of the ECP code of conduct.
Police said when the workers were told to end the meeting, some of them tried to push the policemen away.
The police seized the loud speakers and the station house officer said 33 men were arrested, while several others fled.
He said a case had been registered against 58 workers under Sections 188, 186 and 353 (disobedience, obstructing a public servant from performing duty, assault or …use of force to deter public servant from performing duty, respectively).
He said those arrested included Tariq Rasheed, Sheikh Athar Mumtaz, Imran Liaqat, Khalid Qureshi and Malik Anwar Ali.
In Vehari district, Burewala police registered an FIR against Ayesha Nazir Jutt, an independent candidate from NA-167, on charges of using a loud speaker at her corner meeting.
An FIR was registered against Chaudhary Usman Warraich, an independent candidate in PP-233, for use of fireworks.
In Sahiwal district, the Pakpattan city police registered an FIR against a Pakistan Peoples Party candidate in PP-228, Humayun Sarwar, under the Amplifier Act. Sarwar was also charged for organising a meeting without permission from the authorities concerned.
A Pakistan Peoples Party worker, Muhammad Sabir, was arrested from the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2013.