Lahore police on Saturday evening expelled the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) leader Maqbool Gujjar from the boundaries of the city.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has banned the entry of Maqbool Gujjar into Lahore but he managed to enter on Saturday morning.

Earlier today, the Johar Town police conducted a raid but Maqbool Gujjar evaded the arrest and fled from the area.

The Lahore police have said that Maqbool Gujjar has been expelled from the boundaries of Lahore due to the police action.

Anyhow, the police said that they have arrested three people who were moving along with Maqbool Gujjar in another vehicle.

The police said that the arrested persons are identified as Shahryar, Rana Sadaqat and Hanif Nawaz. 

Reacting to the development, Punjab home minister Ataullah Tarar said that the entry of both PTI leaders namely Ali Amin Gandapur and Gujjar into the provincial capital had been banned as per the law.

“The decision was deemed necessary because there were fears that armed gangs of the PTI would descend on Punjab both from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to create a law and order situation,” he explained. 

“The very fact that one of them still managed to sneak into the city shows that the party has nefarious designs,” he alleged.      

Tarar, on the occasion, renewed his government’s resolve that none would be allowed to disturb peace during the by-polls scheduled to be held on 20 Punjab Assembly (PA) seats tomorrow (Sunday, July 17, 2022).  

Reporter: Irfan Malik