Lahore jalsa: Maryam Nawaz, Shahid Khaqan among PML-N leaders booked in case against PDM

• PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz and PML-N leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ahsan Iqbal and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi among PML-N leaders named in FIR
• PDM leaderships accused of breaking the locks of Greater Iqbal Park at Minar-e-Pakistan and forcibly entering to hold a rally

LAHORE: A case has been registered against the central leadership of the Pakistan Democratic Movement for causing irreparable damage to a national asset after its Minar-e-Pakistan jalsa on Sunday.  

PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz and PML-N leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ahsan Iqbal and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi have been nominated in the case.

Several other Opposition leaders, including Rana Sanaullah and Marriyum Aurangzeb have also been named in the FIR.

The FIR states that the PDM caused irreparable damage to the sanctity of a national heritage [Minar-e-Pakistan].

It includes 15 counts of violations, including a violation of coronavirus standard operating procedures and the Sound System Act.

Read more on what rules PDM violated at its Lahore jalsa

The case was registered at the Larri Adda police station on the complaint of a security officer.

The PDM administration broke the gate and fences of the Greater Iqbal Park to enter, the FIR said. 

PML-N's Malik Waseem Khokhar, too, has been named in the FIR. It says he entered the park with an estimated 125 people after putting up resistance.

The tiles of the park's floor and track were smashed to install Flex and Search lights, the FIR read.

Read more on what PDM's next step is in its anti-government campaign

A day earlier, two cases were registered against the PDM's Lahore jalsa for forcibly entering the Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore and holding a public rally.

Both were registered at the Larri Adda police station on the complaint of security staff. One of them was registered on the complaint of Zeeshan Haider Naqvi and the other on the complaint of supervisor Muhammad Yousuf.

In the FIR, it is stated that the PDM leadership and workers broke locks and forcibly entered the park to make arrangements for a public gathering.

The PDM, an alliance of 11 opposition parties, held its rally in Lahore despite authorities denying permission for it.

PML-N reacts to case over Minar-e-Pakistan rally

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb condemned the FIR registration over the Minar-e-Pakistan rally.

She said the FIR is written proof by the "false" government of the success of the historic public gathering in Lahore.

She called it a "failed propaganda" to make the public meeting seem small.

Aurangzeb said this exposed the undemocratic thinking of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

This FIR is proof of the panic and fear of those who stole the public mandate, she said, adding that PM Khan cannot hide behind fake FIRs.