Over a dozen miscreants, accused of attacking the GHQ, Rawalpindi in violent protests following PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, have been identified, according to a statement.

They were identified through special technology.

“Afshan Kamran, Fatima Ahsaan, Shabana Fayyaz, Abid Malik, Asim Khurshid, Zahid Ali Shah Gillani, Khan Kashif Khan, Muneeza Ahmed, Jehangir Ahmed, Muhammad Usman Qureshi, Abubakar Ahmed, Pirzada Shahbaz Nasir, Ansar Javed, and Hammad Khan” were identified by the statement.

The government was tightening the noose around arsonists and those who attacked the state and sensitive buildings. It was reported that law enforcement agencies were active in arresting the suspects.

CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani said on Sunday that 264 people had been arrested in connection with the attack on GHQ and the arrests had been based on ‘evidence’.

He also said that 27 people had been arrested under suspicion of being involved on the attack on a Metro Bus station, which had caused a loss of over Rs800 million rupees.

“Those involved in arson and vandalism will be arrested at any cost,” he said.

Though the authorities have been making arrests and identifying the suspected miscreants, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave a 72-hour ultimatum to the law enforcement agencies to arrest the culprits involved in the violence that erupted after the PTI chief was pick­ed up.

“It is time to do or die or now or never,” he said after visiting the Punjab Safe Cities Authority and the corps commander’s house to take stock of the situation four days after protesters went on the rampage following the arrest of Imran Khan.

“The real culprits who showed this kind of enmity against the motherland should be arrested and produced in anti-terrorism courts under the relevant laws. These elements should be arrested immediately, without fear or favour,” he said and blamed the PTI chief and his followers for arson and violent attacks.

On Saturday, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir warned against further attempts of violating the sanctity and security of military installations. He vowed to bring “all the planners, abetters, instigators and executors” of May 9 violence to justice.

Around six rioters, who attacked the Lahore Corps Commander’s house and other army installations, were identified by law enforcement agencies earlier this week. Jinnah House Lahore attackers were also identified.

Hundreds of police officers were injured and more than 4,000 people detained, mostly in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to authorities.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

At least 26 suspected miscreants were identified in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They are accused of damaging the state buildings and disturbing the law and order situation.

They were named as Gul Dad Khan, Bashir Khan, Malik Shafiullah, Malik Liaqat Ali, Dr Khalilur Rehman, Azam Khan, Rehan Zeb, Shakeel Ahmed, Sajjad Muhammad, Riasat Khan, Muhattaram Khan, Hamza Latif, Sikander Zeb Khan, Taimur Ahmed, Shehryar Khan, Safdar Hussain, Muhammad Ayaz, Timur Khal, Wahab, Wajahat Ibrahim, Waqas Khan, Shahzad Ali, Junaid Khan, and Owais Khan Yousafzai.

KP IG Akhtar Hayat Khan confirmed to Aaj News that at least 927 protesters have been arrested and a total of 85 FIRs registered. The complaints included a dozen of charges, including murder, attempted murder, terrorism, and criminal conspiracy.

Protesters had set the Radio Pakistan building on fire, vandalised the office of the provincial Election Commission, and damaged several government properties were damaged. The agitators also blocked the GT Road at different places.

Sources told Aaj News that the names of Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Kamran Bangash, Shaukat Ali, Arbab Sher Ali, Fazal Elahi, Malik Wajid, Muhammad Asif, Arif Yusuf, Younis Zaheer, Meena Khan Afridi have been added to the FIRs.

At least seven died and 152 people were injured in the protests.

Islamabad

In Islamabad, the police have claimed to have arrested more than 300 people.

The federal capital police have also taken the central leadership of PTI, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Ali Muhammad Khan Ejaz Chaudhry, Jamshed Cheema, Musrat Cheema, Umar Sarfraz Cheema, Yasmin Rashid, Shireen Mazari, Malika Bukhari, Ali Zaidi, and Alia Hamza.

Punjab

The Punjab Police have claimed to have arrested 2,560 miscreants involved in vandalism and arson across the province. More than 150 officers and workers were seriously injured in the violent protests.

They added that 63 police officers and personnel were injured in Lahore, 29 in Rawalpindi, 26 in Faisalabad, 13 in Gujranwala, 10 in Attock, five in Sialkot, and six in Mianwali.

Arsonists are also accused of vandalizing around 80 police vehicles in the province.

Karachi

At least 400 suspects involved in vandalism were arrested from Karachi. Around seven cases have been registered.

Balochistan

At least 80 suspects, including PTI leader Mubeen Khilji, involved in violent protests were arrested in Balochistan. Khilji was shifted to Quetta district jail.

Sources said that Khilji has been arrested under MPO.

More to follow