Punjab lawmakers’ houses raided, activists being hauled up

ISLAMABAD: Overnight large-scale raids and arrests all across the province of Punjab continued unabated for thwarting the impending long march and sit-in in the federal capital city here.

Scores of political workers and lawyers were arrested. The government of Punjab has clamped section 144 in the province including the capital city Lahore, while it has been decided to deploy Rangers in the big cities/towns. Lists of political activists and lawyers have been prepared and their houses are being raided for arrests.

Police sources told that national assembly members—Bilal Yasin, Chaudhry Naseer Bhatta, former provincial minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, while Punjab assembly members—Khawaja Imran Nazir and Shamsa Gauhar’s houses were raided for arrests.

In Raiwind, several activists of ML-N and JI were arrested during the crackdown unleashed by the police. Several ML-N activists, local leaders and workers were also arrested in raids at Kasur and Khadian, while the Islamabad/Rawalpindi ML-N local leaders had gone underground on tip-off of the crackdown.

Police sources told that the Islamabad houses of ML-N leader Zafar Ali Shah, Dr. Tariq MNA and Anjum Aqeel were raided, but they were not present at their residences, while the police hauled up Dr. Tariq’s brother.

Rawalpindi lawyers’ leader Justice (Retired) Tariq Mahmud, ML-N leaders—Hanif Abbasi, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ziaullah Shah, Shabab Milli president, Syed Shahid Gilani, JI leader Dabir Ahmad Khan’s houses were also raided, but they were not present at their residences. Human Rights activist, Tahira Abdullah was released after being kept into custody for three hours.

Pakistan going through its worst crisis ever: Nawaz

ABBOTTABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif has asked the nation to get ready for offering sacrifices for a revolution in the country.

Addressing a charged rally here on Wednesday, Nawaz said time had come that the people should come on streets to change their destiny. He asked the people to take part in the long march of lawyers, if they wanted to change their fate.

Nawaz said President Asif Ali Zardari has again introduced the politics of horse-trading in the country. He lauded the efforts of Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Sardar Mehtab Khan and Pir Sabir Shah for the restoration of deposed judges and supremacy of constitution.

"Today is a defining moment in Pakistan's history. We can change the destiny of this country. Pakistan stands at a crossroads today and it is your duty to save it," Nawaz said.

"We want to change this outdated system because it poses a danger to our existence and they want to charge me for sedition," he told the rally of thousands of supporters, who cheered and waved party banners.

The PML-N Quaid said the people were facing a grim situation, because they had not learnt to rise up against the system. He said the PML-N would not go nation’s sacrifices unnoticed. He said the society was facing unrest, turmoil and anxiety because of the wrong and inconsistent policies of the previous and incumbent governments.