Lahore police arrest PTI activist Amin over alleged plot for May 9-style violence

Lahore police have arrested a man they identify as a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist, Amin, on allegations that he was recruiting and training 20–30 young men to confront law enforcement and stage violence similar to the May 9, 2023 riots during the party’s call for protests on September 27.

DIG Operations Faisal Kamran announced the arrest at a press conference on Sunday, saying police recovered an audio recording from the suspect’s mobile phone in which a woman police identified as Fatima Haider — described by the DIG as a PTI Welfare Wing member who is herself an accused in the May 9 cases — could be heard arranging 20–30 people for the protest, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan via UrduPoint.

Police allege the group was to receive formal training and then be brought to Lahore to create unrest and interfere with police duties. Kamran said the recording would be sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency for forensic examination, and that police were still investigating where the recruits were being trained. A case has been registered at Defence A Police Station under Pakistan Penal Code sections 186, 353, 120-B, 124 and 505, naming two suspects including a woman, with three others listed as unidentified.

Amin, a native of Sahiwal who police say worked as a driver for Fatima Haider’s family, has not yet been arrested according to Dawn, which reports she has not been arrested either. Dawn says the PTI has vehemently rejected the police claim. Police say multiple teams have been formed to track the remaining suspects and another arrest is expected shortly.

Sources

• Dawn: Lahore police arrest PTI activist ‘planning another May 9’
• UrduPoint (APP): DIG Operations claims arresting man over plan to train ‘rioters’ for PTI protest
• SAMAA TV: Sharjeel Memon criticises PTI over Islamabad protest costs
• Daily Qudrat: “They want to bring goons to Lahore and stage a May 9-like incident”