Death of worker due to violence in Lahore, Punjab Police in hot waters

There is speculation that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker Ali Bilal died due to alleged police brutality while in custody, as a video has gone viral on social media after his death showing Ali Bilal in a police van with his colleagues. can be seen chanting slogans and making a Victory sign, the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab has taken notice of Ali Bilal’s death and has ordered an inquiry, and in this regard, the Punjab Police has also formed an investigation committee.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had announced to hold an election rally on Wednesday, March 8, after the order of the Supreme Court and the Election Commission announced the date of general elections in Punjab. By making it an issue, Section 144 was enforced by banning all kinds of gatherings, processions and rallies in Lahore for 7 days, sealing the roads by placing containers in Zaman Park and adjacent areas.

Read also

Mohammad Ishaq Dar presided over meeting of ECC of the Cabinet

Despite the implementation of Section 144, a large number of Tehreek-e-Insaf workers reached Zaman Park, protesting PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s announcement, on which the police cracked down and started rounding up the workers.

The police used unjustified force on the PTI workers, as per the decision of the Election Commission, general elections are to be held in Punjab on April 30, despite this, the Punjab Home Department did not hold a rally. The workers were face to face. The police shelled PTI workers, lathi-charged, water cannons were used, several PTI workers were detained for violating Section 144.

ہمارےمکمل طور پر نہتے،جانثار اور پرجوش کارکن علی بلال کو پنجاب پولیس نےشہیدکردیا۔انتخابی ریلی میں شرکت کیلئےآنے والےنہتےکارکنان کیساتھ ایسا وحشیانہ سلوک نہایت شرمناک ہے۔پاکستان اس وقت خون کے پیاسےمجرموں کےچنگل میں ہے۔ہم IG، CCPO اور دیگر کیخلاف قتل کے مقدمات درج کروائیں گے۔ pic.twitter.com/HmrreBFslN

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 8, 2023

Around 6:00 p.m., Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf senior leader and former federal minister Hamad Azhar announced that the Tehreek-e-Insaf rally had been cancelled, and with it, the news spread that an activist, Ali Bilal, had been killed in alleged police violence. It has happened.

Immediately after this, Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan issued a message on his Twitter handle and wrote that “Our completely innocent, brave and enthusiastic activist Ali Bilal was martyred by the Punjab Police. The innocent who came to participate in the election rally. Such barbaric treatment of workers is shameful. Pakistan is currently in the grip of bloodthirsty criminals. We will register murder cases against IG, CCPO and others.”

پرامن ریلی پر بدترین تشدد کیا گیا، کیمیکل ملا پانی استعمال کیا گیا، ایک کارکن بلال جاں بحق ہوگیا، عمران خان کا الجزیرہ کو انٹرویو pic.twitter.com/EzGDjreiKo

— Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) March 8, 2023

While sharing the video of Ali Bilal’s detention, Imran Khan further wrote, “In the video, Ali Bilal, who was also fondly called as Zal Shah, can be clearly seen during the transfer to the police station. He was alive. So he was killed in police custody. The present government and the Punjab police are ready for such brutality and bloodshed!”

While giving an interview to Al Jazeera, Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf said that ” The worst violence was done on a peaceful rally, chemicals mixed with water were used, one activist Bilal was killed.

علی بلال نے میرے لئے بات کی تھی۔ دلیر تھا علی بلال۔ مجھ سے زیادہ دلیر۔ معاف کرنا میرے دوست تم ایک کم ظرف معاشرے میں پیدا ہو گئے۔ معاف کرنا دوست۔ تمہارا قصور تمہارا سچ تھا۔ تمہارا قصور تمہاری غربت تھی۔ pic.twitter.com/ge1gBjzv9o

— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) March 8, 2023

Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shehbaz Gul shared his video calling Ali Bilal a brave worker and wrote, “Ali Bilal spoke for me. Ali Bilal was brave. More brave than me. Forgive me my friend, you are one.” Born in a poor society. Forgive me friend. Your fault was your truth. Your fault was your poverty.”

After the PTI activist’s martyrdom, Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi immediately took notice of the incident and ordered an inquiry.

On the other hand, Punjab Police has formed a two-member investigation committee. The committee includes DIG Elite Force Sadiq Ali and SSP Imran Kishore. The inquiry committee will record the statements of the witnesses.