Pak PML-N activists arrested for abusing SC judges

Sixty activists of the ruling PML-N in Pakistan have been arrested for using abusive language against Supreme Court judges and the military establishment in Punjab province.

PML-N lawmakers led by parliamentarians Waseem Akhtar and Naeem Safdar held a rally on April 13 in Kasur district, 50 kms from Lahore, to lodge a protest against the Supreme Court's verdict imposing a lifetime ban on ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from taking part in parliamentary politics.

As some clips of the rally in which participants using abusive language against Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and the military were circulated on social media, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ordered arrest of the participants in the rally.

"We have arrested 60 suspects, including Waseem Akhtar, Naeem Safdar, Kasur Municipal Committee Chairman Ayaz Khan, Vice Chairman Ahmad Latif, two UC chairmen - Nasir Khan and Jamil Khan - and as many councillors during the last two days.

"An FIR against them has been registered under sections 166, 506, 341, 228 (intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding), 109, 147 and 149 (offences against public tranquillity) of Pakistan Penal Code," said Kasur District Police Officer Zahid Nawaz Marwat.

Marwat said the PML-N leaders and workers blocked roads and used abusive language against judges and intelligence agencies.

He said video recording of the suspects is also available with the police. "We have booked a total of 85 PML-N workers in this case and police are raiding the whereabouts of the remaining 25," he said.

Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz has urged party workers to refrain from showing "aggressive reactions".

Nawaz Sharif was disqualified as prime minister in the Panama Papers case last July.

This month the apex court also disqualified him for life from taking part in parliamentary politics.