May 9 riots: Pakistan govt blocks CNICs of PTI absconders

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Monday blocked Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) of absconding PTI leaders in cases of May 9 riots, ARY News reported.

The Interior Ministry on the recommendation of the Punjab police directed the NADRA to block CNICs of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders (PTI) leaders who were declared absconders in May 9 riots cases.

The absconded leaders, whose CNICs have been blocked, include Murad Saeed, Azam Swat, Hammad Azhar, Aslam Iqbal, Karam Khokhar, Ali Amin Gandapur, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Musarrat Cheema, Jamshed Cheema, Zubair Niazi, Malik Nadeem Abbas and Ghulam Muhiuddin.

Related: NADRA rejects blocking CNICs of absconding citizens

According to police, the CNICs of PTI absconders will remain blocked until their appearance before ATC courts in May 9 cases.

Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders are facing probe after the May 9 incidents that were triggered across Pakistan after the arrest of the PTI chairman in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

NADRA clarification

The National Registration and Database Authority (NADRA) rejected the reports of blocking computerised national identity cards (CNICs) of any absconding citizen in connection with the probe against 18 absconders in the May 9 riots case.

The NADRA officials said that the authority has not blocked CNICs of any absconding citizen so far. They added that the authority is required to follow all legal procedures regarding the absconders in the different cases.

They clarified that the legal procedures for blocking the CNICs of the absconders have not been completed so far.

May 9 riots

Violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after the former prime minister was arrested on May 9 this year.

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

Army installations and the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore had come under attack during a protest by PTI workers.