Corps Commander House vandalism: Two more audio leaks of PTI leaders surface

LAHORE: Two more controversial audio leaks of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders purportedly discussing the vandalism of Lahore Corps Commander House have surfaced on Wednesday, ARY News reported.

In an alleged audio message to party activists, PTI ticket holder Ibad Farooq claimed that he has reached Lahore Corps Commander House along with party leader Yasmeen Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry and Mahmood ur Rasheed.

“We have got clear instructions from Yasmin Rashid to set Corps Commander House on fire,” Ibad Farooq said, adding that Ijaz Chaudhry has also instructed not to stop until release of PTI chairman.

The party ticket holder directed the “PTI tigers’ to immediately reach the house of Corps Commander.

Meanwhile, another purported audio tape featuring Ijaz Chaudhry and his son – Ali Chaudhry – surfaced, discussing the vandalism of government property.

In the audio, Ijaz Chaudhry can be heard discussing the situation of protests following the arrest of Imran Khan. “Almost three people have sustained bullet injuries,” he told Ali Chaudhry.

“His house has been vandalised,” he said, adding that every single thing was taken from the house.

Violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief was arrested from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday.

The protests are being held in remote and major cities as the party workers are agitated due to their chairman’s arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order.

PTI leadership’s arrests

Earlier in the day, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was arrested Wednesday, hours after the police apprehended PTI Secretary General Asad Umar as the authorities crack down on the party’s leadership amid countrywide protests.

The former foreign minister was arrested from Islamabad Red Zone under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.

Sources told ARY News that Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been shifted to the Secretariat Police Station in the federal capital.

Red Alert declared in Islamabad

Authorities have declared red alert in Islamabad district after imposing section 144. “Paramilitary rangers will be imposed at key government buildings while armed force will be deployed at various intersections and thoroughfares of the city,” sources said.

Local authorities have vowed strict action against the people involved in damaging public and private properties. Police said that over 100 people have been arrested so far.

Rawalpindi Police have registered cases after violent protests staged by the PTI workers against arrest of the party’s chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday.

According to reports over 1000 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers and leaders have been booked in various cases registered at R.A. Bazaar, Cantt Civil Line, Waris Khan, City and New Town police stations.