Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been added to the no-fly list. Pakistani news media reported this information on Thursday citing sources.
“Imran Khan has been added to the no-fly list,” tweeted Pakistan Daily, citing sources.
However, there is no official confirmation regarding the addition of Imran Khan to the no-fly list.
Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the government is considering imposing sanctions on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for the May 9 incident, Dawn reported.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Khawaja Asif said, “Decision has not been taken yet, but review is definitely underway.”
He termed the May 9 vandalism of military installations across Pakistan as a ‘coordinated attack’ planned by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
Dawn had earlier reported that the police department has sent the names of 245 PTI workers, including three former members of the provincial assembly, to the federal government for inclusion in the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL), so that they cannot leave the country.
The Rawalpindi district police have named around 319 people on their wanted list and forwarded the names of 245 PTI workers in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Dawn reported on Thursday, citing sources. The remaining 74 are yet to be arrested.
Dawn also reported on Tuesday that the Lahore police wanted to put 746 PTI leaders on the no-fly list with a view to imposing a one-month ban on foreign travel. After a request by the Rawalpindi police, the total number of PTI workers who could be included in the list stands at 991.
Under the PNIL, people on the police’s wanted list are barred from flying out of the country for 30 days, Dawn reported quoting a senior police official.
After reviewing the cases of those arrested, the police finalized the names of 245 people arrested during and after the May 9 violence. These names were sent to the FIA to restrict their travel by air, land or sea.
Those still wanted by the police but not yet arrested include former PTI MP Rashid Hafeez, Sheikh Rashid’s nephew; Fayazul Hasan Chohan, who was arrested earlier and later released, and Umar Tanveer Butt.
According to information provided to the federal government, RA Bazar police arrested 31 suspects involved in the GHQ attack. But the police had 27 people wanted.
The police proposed the temporary travel ban after identifying PTI supporters involved in violent protests through video clips, CCTV footage, intelligence and geo-fencing.
A police investigation team under the supervision of City Police Officer-in-Charge (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani has arrested 104 people suspected of involvement in the GHQ attack and the identification parade of 23 people has been completed.
The police have been directed to expedite legal proceedings against those arrested in connection with the May 9 violence.
In this regard, the police have also requested the Punjab Home Department to form a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate terrorism-related cases registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
Police operations are underway to arrest the suspects involved in these incidents.
Meanwhile, officials said two separate teams of police each under the supervision of a Superintendent of Police have been formed to arrest PTI leaders and workers from Punjab and KP. Punjab and KP police are being contacted to assist in arresting persons wanted by the capital police in connection with the cases.
According to officers, the response received from the KP police was not encouraging. According to their explanation, the capital police received a response indicating that they may face significant resistance during house raids for arrests, as it is against the local culture for strangers to enter one’s home.
The Capital Police has also requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to place the names of PTI leaders in the PNIL and Exit Control List (ECL), who are involved in cases registered against them for violence in May 2022 and 2023.
(May 25)