Punjab govt sacks 25 SHOs to 'avenge' treatment of PTI marchers.

LAHORE -- Gearing up for a major action against those involved in the torture of PTI's leaders and workers on May 25, the Lahore police on Thursday shown the door to 25 station house officers (SHOs) for their alleged involvement in the 'sordid' episode during the party's Azadi March at the 'behest of the Hamza Shehbaz administration'.

Official sources indicate that axe will fall not only on civil and police bureaucrats but also some politicians of PML-N. The PTI-PML-Q Punjab government may give a surprise to PML-N by arresting some of its top leaders like former chief minister Hamza Shehbaz, federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Special Assistant to PM Ata Tarar.

'Lahore police have suspended 25 SHOs from service and initiated inquiry against them,' Punjab Home Minister retired Col Muhammad Hashim said in a tweet.

He quoted Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as having directed him to take action against people involved in breaking the law on behalf of their master in May. 'I will not leave anyone and will take action against [them] all,' he said.

DIG Operation Afzaal Ahmed Kouser claimed to have 'conducted interviews and removed SHOs from their posts while he also appointed 32 new SHOs' to different police stations in the city.

However, he claimed to have removed old SHOs and issued posting orders for new SHOs by taking administrative measures.

Repeated attempts to obtain his comment failed.

It may be noted that SHOs in Lahore played a key role in crackdown against PTI leaders and activists ahead of and during...