Arrest warrant issued against Qadri for attacking policemen

A Pakistani court today issued non-bailable arrest warrants against anti-government cleric Tahir-ul Qadri and 72 of his supporters for allegedly attacking policemen during a clash here ahead of his 'Revolution March' demanding ouster of the Prime Minister.
Anti-Terrorism Court Gujranwala Judge Itifaq Abbasi issued the non-bailable warrants against the firebrand Canada-based cleric and his supporters for inflicting "severe" injuries on 61 policemen during the clash in Ghakar Mandi, about 100 kilometres from Lahore, on August 10.
The court asked police to arrest Qadri and his suppoters and produce them before it by August 23.
Qadri and his supporters had been booked under anti-terrorism charges on the complaint of Lahore Police.

On August 10, clashes had erupted when police stopped the supporters of Qadri from reaching Lahore to attend a ceremony to pay homage to 14 of their partymen killed in a police raid in Model Town on June 17.
Qadri has announced countrywide strike and asked his supporters to block highways and motorways to force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign and announce fresh elections.