Police launch crackdowns on PTI leaders ahead of Islamabad march

Ahead of the Islamabad long march, the coalition government has launched started crackdowns via police forces in various cities of Punjab and Sindh province to arrest the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that three long marches had been carried out against his government during his tenure and they did not take any action against anyone nor make arrests.

Sindh and Punjab police forces have started arresting PTI leaders and activists in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and other cities. Police in different parts of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi have detained dozens of PTI workers in separate raids.

A large contingent of police raided the house of PTI leader and ex-energy minister Hammad Azhar in the Garden Town area of ​​Lahore while other leaders including Dr Yasmin Rashid were also present there.

According to media reports, Dr Yasmin Rashid sat on the ground and staged a sit-in against the police raid. A large number of PTI workers gathered outside Azhar’s house and chanted slogans against the police.

According to reports, a heavy contingent of police raided the houses of former provincial ministers Raja Basharat, Usman Dar and Sadia Sohail, whereas, the house of Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan was raided.

PTI Lahore leaders said police have arrested more than 80 party workers. The PTI workers have been arrested under 16 MPO and sent to jail.

On the other hand, Karachi police arrested PTI central vice-president and former MNA Attaullah Niazi from NA-250 constituency during a raid at his residence.

Police also raided the house of PTI Karachi President and Sindh Assembly lawmaker Bilal Ghaffar but he was not at home.

The house of PTI Sindh lawmaker Shehzad Qureshi was raided allegedly by police officials in plain clothes to arrest him but he was also not present at the house. PTI MNA Shahnawaz Jadoon’s residence was also raided in Karachi’s Keamari and his father and two brothers were arrested.

Police raided the house of former judge Nasira Javed at Boulevard Gulberg at 2 pm. Police smashed her house with a vehicle. It is pertinent to mention here that former judge Nasira Javed is neither a PTI worker nor a supporter.

Police break-in at 2am..Dr #NasiraIqbal is no PTI supporter-listen to her complaint…https://t.co/QTiHiwYgRP

— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) May 24, 2022

Justice (Retd) Nasira Iqbal said that police personnel had come to arrest Waleed Iqbal. She said that they do not even live here and they are currently present in Islamabad.

The PTI leaders said that the cowardly government could not stop them from marching for real independence.

PTI leader Mahmoodur Rasheed said that they are holding a final meeting regarding departure from Lahore and the entire leadership of Lahore was present at the house of Hammad Azhar when the police raided. He added they hid in different parts of the house.

“It was a cowardly move by the government which we strongly condemn. I am still an MNA. If this can happen to me, then you can imagine what can happen to someone else,” said Hamad Azhar.

Strongly condemning the crackdown on PTI workers across the country, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that raids on the homes of PTI workers and leadership have again exposed the face of PML-N. Peaceful protest is the right of all citizens.

Imran Khan has said that whenever the PML-N comes to power, its fascist nature becomes apparent. They did not stop the march of PML-N, PPP and JUI-F nor did they launch any crackdown.