PM's nephew Hassan Niazi continues to evade arrest as police carry out raids across Lahore

By
Web Desk
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The Punjab Police on Saturday continued their search for Hassan Niazi, the nephew of Prime Minister Imran Khan, for his alleged involvement in the lawyers' attack on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) earlier this week.

The police have so far conducted five raids at different residences belonging to Niazi in Lahore but they have not been able to make the arrest.

Niazi is nominated in one of the two first information reports (FIRs) registered for vandalising a police car parked outside the PIC on Wednesday. 

According to the police, the case was registered after they "found Niazi damaging a police car in the CCTV footage they had obtained".

The deputy inspector general (DIG) investigations on Friday had said that "latest technology" is being used to arrest the PM's nephew.

Also read: Punjab police raid residence of PM Imran's nephew for arrest

A group of more than 200 lawyers, following an earlier quarrel with the PIC staff that escalated into a brawl, had stormed the hospital, vandalised property and damaged dozens of vehicles. They had also set ablaze a police van during their assault.

Three people had lost their lives amidst the mayhem as doctors abandoned their patients to escape the mob. 

The provincial health minister had noted that the assault was an unprecedented example of violent behavior, noting that "the hospitals are spared violence even during full-blown wars."

The police have registered an FIR against 200-250 unidentified lawyers on the complaint of an official of the PIC.

The cases have been registered under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including 322 (qatl-bis-sabab), 452 (trespassing), 353 (assault to deter public servant from performing duty), 354 (assault on woman to outrage her modesty), 148 (rioting with deadly weapon), 395 (dacoity) as well as Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).