LAHORE  - Lahore police Monday registered a criminal case against the miscreants who attacked a candlelight vigil organised by civil society to commemorate the death anniversary of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer at Liberty Chowk.
Police sources said that an FIR was lodged against the assailants after the police identified seven of them with the help of the footage, which was broadcast on national news channels following the assault.
An eyewitness told the police that several armed men riding on motorbikes, all of a sudden, appeared at Liberty Chowk on Sunday evening and attacked the members of civil society, who had gathered there to mark the 4th death anniversary of slain governor.
The attackers tortured the members of the civil society and also tore apart the portraits of the former governor, who was gunned down by his bodyguard in 2011 in Islamabad for demanding amendments to the blasphemy laws.
Punjab Law Minister Mujtaba Shujaaur Rehman told the Punjab Assembly on Monday that the seven people who attacked the civil society members in Lahore were arrested by the police. “The police arrested them after they were identified with the help of the footage and a case has been lodged against them,” the minister said.
A senior police officer told this reporter that at least 25 people were arrested in connection with the attack on the civil society members.
One of the activists told reporters that they were lighting candles in front of Taseer’s portrait and chanting slogans against terrorism when seven to ten men came from behind and attacked them with clubs and sticks. The attackers tore down banners, posters, and also harassed the civil society members, he added.
Many of the activists had to flee towards safe places to save their lives. Two civil society members sustained minor injuries as they fell on the road when they tried to flee the assault. When the police reached the scene, the attackers had fled on their motorbikes.
Meanwhile, police conducted raids in different parts of the provincial metropolis late Sunday night and arrested the seven attackers. The brazen attack triggered debate on the social media as a great number of people condemned the assault on the unarmed activists.
The case was registered with the Gulberg police station on different charges including section 7 of the anti-terrorism act (ATA) against 22 people including seven arrested persons. Further investigation was underway.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the incident and sought a report from police. He directed the IGP to immediately arrest the culprits involved and take stern action under the law against the elements who resorted to hooliganism.