Punjab police registers FIR against Hafiz Naeem, others violating Section 144 in Lahore

LAHORE: Punjab police have registered an FIR against several Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leaders for violating Section 144 during a sit-in protest held as part of the party’s “Haq Do Awam” campaign at Bhekewal Morr, here on Monday.

The FIR, lodged by SI Khalid Hussain of the Iqbal Town police station, names nine leaders, including JI Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, Ziauddin Ansari, Khalid Butt, Liaqat Baloch, and Ahmad Salman Baloch.

According to the police, the protest caused a roadblock, severely inconveniencing the public, prompting legal action against the demonstrators.

JI Central Secretary General Amirul Azeem condemned the arrests, criticizing the Punjab Police for detaining party leaders and dismantling protest camps.

He noted that leaders from districts like Khanewal, Rajanpur, and Okara, including Haroon Rasheed Nizami and Dr. Irfan, had been arrested. Azeem vowed that such actions would not hinder the movement.

Earlier, JI Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman had announced nationwide sit-ins for September 29 to demand lower electricity prices.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem emphasized that the ongoing “Haq Do Awam Ko” movement aimed to provide relief to the public, particularly from rising electricity costs.

He recalled that JI had previously held a 14-day sit-in in Rawalpindi and organized a successful nationwide shutter-down strike, which was one of the most well-organized in Pakistan’s history. The government had signed a written agreement with the party, committing to address their demands within 45 days.

As the deadline had passed, Hafiz Naeem announced the next phase of their movement.