Police get 'free hand'.

LAHORE -- As the crackdown on the PTI intensified after clashes between the polAice and the party supporters, the Punjab caretaker government on Monday gave a 'free hand' to Punjab police regarding action against the PTI.

The announcement comes at a time when police are conducAting raids at the residences of PTI leaders and workers wanAted in connection with cases pertaining to attacks on police teams in Lahore and Islamabad.

A source told Dawn that lists of those providing food and logistic support to the PTI workers at the Zaman Park residence of Imran Khan were also being prepared for action against them.

In a press conference in the provincial capital, Caretaker ChiAef Minister Mohsin Naqvi appeared quite categorical with regard to his governmAent's intention towards the PTI in the coming days, if it dared to flout the law of the land.

'The writ of the state and the government will be established at any cost. If this time anyone challenges the writ of the government and attacks the police it will be dealt with an iron hand. If they (a reference to the PTI) resort to violence, they will get a stern reply as I have given a free hand to the Punjab police in this regard,' the interim CM said.

'They (PTI workers) will receive a response that will make them remember. Enough is enough... the state will enforce its writ,' he said, adding the police chief had been given complete authority to make decisions after reviewing the situation.

The caretaker government has been upset over the 'fierce resistance' of the PTI workers at Zaman Park during last week's two-day operation to arrest the PTI chief in the Toshakhana case.

Saturday's torching of an Elite Force vehicle and thrashing of policemen allegedly by the PTI workers at Zaman Park forced the authorities to review its strategy and 'act more aggressively' against the PTI men this time around.

In its earlier operation at Zaman Park, the police and Rangers had decided not to use 'live ammunition' for its success. It will be seen whether the authorities will stick to this decision in the next round of the operation.

JIT to probe police-PTI clashes

As the law enforcement agencies and PTI workers engaged in 'pitched battles' during the last week, Mr Naqvi announced the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe 'acts of terrorism against the Punjab police'.

'The government has formed a JIT to...