On the recommendations of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Ch Shafiq Gujjar, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) operations Rana Abdul Jabbar have been removed from their posts and made OSD.SP Model Town division Tariq Aziz has also been removed from his post and made OSD.DIG Ivestigation Zulfiqar Hameed has been given additional charge as CCPO Lahore.The clash started last night when members of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) tried to stop the police from removing barriers outside their leader's house in Model Town Colony and party secretariat, Express News reported. Police baton-charged and shelled the demonstrators for not letting them do their job.Around 53 protesters were also arrested for creating trouble.The injured, 22 of whom are stated to be in critical condition, were shifted to a hospital for medical treatment. According to hospital sources, the injured also include 17 police personnel.PAT chief Qadri lashed out at the Punjab government on Tuesday, saying a case would be registered against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for the “murder” of his supporters.Qadri also held PML-N leaders Chaudhry Nisar, Rana Sanaullah, Saad Rafique and Abid Sher Ali responsible for the clash.The PAT chief, a citizen of Canada, denounced the police’s operation outside his residence in Lahore and termed it “state terrorism.”He also criticized CM Punjab for denying responsibility for the killings of his party workers. He said that all those who were killed would receive ‘eye-for-an-eye’ justice (Qisas).Qadri stated that the police took action, on the orders of the government, because of his support for the army during the ongoing operation in North Waziristan.“Anyone who stands in support of the army is seen by the government as their biggest enemy,” he said, adding that the government has been against the military since the 90s.Qadri claimed that the government was never in favour of the army operation in North Waziristan and had to approve it since they had no choice.He alleged that the government was, in fact, trying to regroup terrorists and facilitate them in the name of dialogue.The PAT chief also said that the other reason for today’s police action was to threaten him and his party, as he is meant to arrive in Pakistan within the next few days.He also said that never had he witnessed anything like this in the 33 years of his political career.CCPO Lahore Muhammad Shafique Gujjar, in a press conference, said police came under fire while inside the Minhaj-ul-Quran office during the anti-encroachment drive, Radio Pakistan reported.27 police personnel were injured, said Gujjar.He added that 53 PAT workers in possession of automatic weapons had also been arrested.The police, today, managed to remove all the barriers despite intense opposition, while anti-encroachment officials are busy clearing the area and removing the rubble. Police personnel are present in the locality to monitor the work and ensure protesters are kept under control.The PAT protesters later moved to the hospital where their fellow supporters were admitted for medical assistance.

An Express News screengrab showing a protester damaging a car in presence of two police officers.

The Punjab police is stating they are stopping the innocent workers according to law, they are lying. #StateTerrorism — Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) June 17, 2014

Amidst their attempts to demolish security barriers, the police have injured unarmed and peaceful civilians. #StateTerrorism — Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) June 17, 2014

The Government is a partner of the terrorists. They want to divert the attention from the Army's operations #StateTerrorism #Pakistan — Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) June 17, 2014

Earlier, taking notice of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation.Sources toldthat the chief minister was not taken into confidence before police started the operation to remove barriers outside Qadri’s house and party secretariat.As per previous court orders, blocking streets for security reasons is not allowed and police should remove such blockages.District Minister Rana Mashoud said the road blockages outside Qadri's house were being removed on complaints filed by the residents of Model Town Colony.Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, while speaking to the media in Lahore, said that the barriers outside Qadri's house and party secretariat were removed after government received information from intelligence agencies about the presence of armed men in the area.He added that the private militia had made it a no go area and no one in Punjab is allowed to do so.While speaking inside the Punjab Assembly, where the opposition members protested against the use of force, Sanullah claimed the police action was inevitable as they were reports of militiamen taking oath for working on an unidentified operation.The law minister further said the provincial government will carry out a judicial inquiry into the incident and those found guilty of unlawful actions will be punished.Informing the assembly about cases being filed against a few senior PAT leaders for their involvement in the clash with the police, Sanaullah claimed that police were fired at from inside the PAT secretariat.Responding to the use of force against his party workers, Qadri said he protests police brutality against the "peaceful" demonstrators.https://twitter.com/TahirulQadri/status/478713193473114112He further accused the government of using this issue to divert attention from the ongoing operation in North Wazirisitan.While speaking to Express News, Qadri said the police action was unjustifiable as the barriers were placed on government’s order many years ago.Accusing police of harassing PAT supporters prior to his visit to Pakistan, Qadri stressed he will arrive in the country as scheduled.The PAT leader also claimed the total number of casualties was higher than the official figure.Confirming the death toll, Secretary General PAT Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said two women and a child were among the deceased. He further claimed the police operation was not to remove the barriers but to threaten and harass PAT supporters.

PAT supporters protesting outside Karachi Press Club against police action in Lahore. PHOTO: ONLINE

PAT supporters staged protests in different parts of the country including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Karachi and other cities.Protesters blocked roads in the twin cities, affecting the flow of traffic. A human chain was formed in Gujranwala while party members also demonstrated in Sialkot, Hafizabad and Multan.Traders association in Lahore also announced a strike in the city. Economic activity will be suspended tomorrow in protest against the deaths.Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami Muslim League, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid condemned the attack, while MQM also announced a day of mourning against the incident. Read the whole story here ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Joint opposition also staged a token walk out from the house over the killings of PAT workers in the Lahore incident.Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah said that it is a conspiracy against democracy, which he said is allegedly hatched by Shahbaz Sharif."Despite differences, force should not be used against Tahirul Qadri or his party workers because [a] few elements could benefit from this," he added.Javed Hashmi of PTI asked the government to stop the killings of innocent people immediately.Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsen Iqbal has been asked to brief the house on the Lahore killings.Citing circumstances, Iqbal said that the findings of the inquiry will be shared with the parliament soon.Shah was not happy with his reply and said that Iqbal tried to bail out the Punjab government.