LAHORE: The federal government is set to take action by blocking the Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders who were declared absconders in connection with the May 9 vandalism cases.

The Punjab police has formally requested the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to implement this measure for 18 PTI leaders.

The list of absconded leaders includes individuals such as Murad Saeed, Imtiaz Sheikh, Farhat Abbas, Wasif Qayyum, Hamid Raza, Farrukh Habib, Aslam Iqbal, Azam Swati, Musarat Jamshed Cheema, Ahmed Niazi, Zubair Niazi, Saeed Ahmed Sindhu, and Hammad Azhar.

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The Lahore police department, in its efforts to address the aftermath of the May 9 riots, compiled a new list of 850 suspects and has already apprehended 54 individuals accused of involvement in arson.

The PTI leaders are under investigation following the May 9 incidents, which unfolded nationwide after the arrest of PTI chairman in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

The protests and violent clashes spanned various regions, including Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad, prompting the deployment of armed forces to maintain law and order.

Notably, during the protests, PTI workers targeted army installations and the Corps Commander’s house in Lahore, adding a layer of complexity to the situation.