Court remands MPA among 58 N workers on hooliganism charges

A local court here in the city on Wednesday sent 58 Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers on 14-day judicial remand, who were arrested during the clash outside the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office on the party vice president Maryam Nawaz’s appearance.
Police presented the arrested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers, including MPA Adnan Fareed, before Judicial Magistrate Zulfiqar Bari who, after a preliminary hearing, sent them to jail on judicial remand.
They are accused of stone-pelting and damaging public property outside Lahore National Accountability Bureau office ahead of party leader Maryam Nawaz’s appearance before the bureau.
A lawyer representing the accused contended before the judicial magistrate that peaceful protest is a fundamental right of every citizen. He accused police of deliberately implicating his clients in the case.
He pleaded with the court to discharge all the accused.
During the hearing, the court rejected request of the investigation officer to issue physical remand of the detainees who have been booked under eight provisions. Earlier, a violent clash between police and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers caused cancellation of Maryam Nawaz appearance in the NAB in an illegal land case.
The NAB has postponed the hearing and the PML-N leader is likely to be summoned again next week.
The scuffle broke out outside the National Accountability Bureau office located near Thokar Niaz Baig ahead of the appearance of the Maryam when party supporters reportedly tried to cross the barricades placed to bar people from reaching premises of the anti-graft body’s office.
Police party also fired tear gas and pelted stones, besides using water canon to disperse the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers.
Many people, including policemen and National Accountability Bureau officials, were injured and more than 50 were arrested after police fired tear gas when the PML-N workers started pelting them and the National Accountability Bureau office with stones.