Criminal investigation opened against top PML N leaders, No arrests likely: Report

*LAHORE – Authorities have opened a criminal investigation involvingleaders of PML-N under an anti-terrorism law, 10 days before the election,said police documents.*

The case relates to the PML-N’s march on July 13, when Sharif returned toPakistan. The party defied a ban on holding public rallies on a Friday. Theformer premier was arrested minutes after landing in the country afterbeing sentenced in absentia by an anti-corruption court on July 6.

Copies of two separate First Information Reports (FIRs), which mark theformal opening of a criminal investigation, named PML-N leader ShehbazSharif, who is Nawaz Sharif’s brother, and a number of other key figures.They include former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who replaced Sharif last yearand served until June when the caretaker government took over.

The FIRs cite section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which has broadprovisions defining terrorism to include creating public fear, and lists 10alleged violations of ordinary criminal law, including unlawful assembly.

“We are taking action against PML-N leaders,” the caretaker home ministerof Punjab, Shaukat Javed, told *Reuters* on Sunday. “But no one will bearrested before the elections.”

He said that including the terrorism charges was a “mistake” that would becorrected later.

Shehbaz Sharif led Friday’s march across Lahore, in which thousands ofpeople took part, intending to send a message to rivals that the popularvote is still with the PML-N ahead of the July 25 election.

National polls indicate a close race between the PML-N and PTI, led byformer cricket star Imran Khan, with the Pakistan Peoples Party in thirdplace.

Sharif was removed from office by the Supreme Court last year and sentencedthis month to 10 years in prison for corruption.

Musadik Malik, a senior PML-N official and member of the Senate, said theFIRs were part of a pattern that included pressuring candidates to changeto PTI and corruption cases against other party leaders.

“This FIR is just another attempt of intimidation and politicalvictimisation,” Malik said. He said the PML-N rally was overwhelminglypeaceful and any ban on gatherings so close to the election was unfair.