Punjab govt to form JIT to probe incidents of vandalism during PTI protests

Punjab govt to form JIT to probe incidents of vandalism during PTI protests

Lahore (Web Desk): Punjab garetaker government has decided to form a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe upsetting incidents of violence at Jinnah House besides other military and civilian installations during countrywide protests following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan’s arrest.

This was announced by Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi while presiding over a meeting at the Head Office of Safe Cities Authority in Lahore to review the law and order situation on Saturday.

The JIT will present a comprehensive report to the government after conducting a probe.

The caretaker Punjab CM directed to speed up action to bring the miscreants involved in the violent activities. He said that geo-fencing will be done of all places near the violent incidents.

He said that the cases against the miscreants will be taken up in the anti-terrorism courts.

The caretaker CM directed the public prosecution department to ensure immediate trial of all these cases.

"All culprits will be brought to court along with evidence and proof and they will not be spared from strict sentences," Naqvi said, adding that a zero-tolerance policy has been adopted against the miscreants.

The caretaker chief minister said educational institutions will reopen from Monday as the situation is improving. He said protection of public lives and properties will be ensured.

On May 9, protests erupted in major cities across the country after Imran Khan's arrest from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The protests soon turned violent, with military installations and government offices, such as those of Radio Pakistan and Associated Press of Pakistan, being set on fire in Peshawar.

On May 11, the Supreme Court (SC) declared the PTI chief’s arrest “invalid and unlawful” and on May 12, the IHC granted him bail, barring police from arresting him in any case till May 15.