Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif’s Party Leaders Charged With Terrorism & for Inciting Violence

On Friday, several FIRs were filed against the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz by the police in Pakistan, who were charging them for inciting violence, involvement in terrorism and attempted murder following unrest in Lahore. Just days before the general election, these incidents take place

Defying a ban on the public rallies ahead of Nawaz Sharif’s arrival in the country, it relates to a march staged by the party workers on Friday. Just minutes after landing in Lahore on Friday, Nawaz Sharif was arrested for being sentenced by an accountability court in a corruption case. Maryam Nawaz, who is Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, also got arrested in the case.

Against the PML-N leaders, the main charges include damaging properties and buildings, injuring and threatening the law enforcement agency officials. Besides holding illegal rallies, they have also been accused of interrupting official work.

Shabhaz Sharif, along with former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and 50 other leaders of the party, a total of 12 FIRs have been lodged against them according to the Lahore Police.

The Minister of Punjab, Shaukat Javed, told Reuters on Sunday that they are taking action against the PML-N leaders, but before the elections no one will be arrested. Javed also added that the terrorism charges were mistakenly put and it would be corrected later.

Former President and Pakistan People’s Party leader, Asif Ali Zardari, condemned the initiation of terrorism cases against the workers of PML-N saying that every citizen has the democratic rights to hold public meetings and rallies.