#FixIt campaigner Alamgir Khan granted bail

Court grants Alamgir Khan and his driver Saifullah bail against surety bonds of Rs5,000 each

KARACHI: A civil court in Karachi on Friday granted bail to #FixIt campaigner Alamgir Khan in a case related to punishment for wrongful restraint.

Judicial magistrate south approved the bail of Alamgir Khan and his driver Saifullah against surety bonds of Rs5000 each.



Later, talking to media outside the court Khan said his only crime was to raise voice for the poor people of Pakistan.

“I requested the whole city to come out and put garbage in the bin I placed at the CM House,” Khan said, adding he was falsely implicated in the case and nothing could stop him from campaigning for the rights of the people.

“I will fight this case. This is a false propaganda. I have helped poor Pakistanis. The only power behind me is the power of God. This movement has commenced and this will be a big test for the CM.”

Further, Khan expressed his gratitude for those who stood behind the campaign, specially the PTI Karachi leaders, and urged all the political parties to rid themselves of the greed for money.

“Leaving rubbish outside the CM's house is symbolic. Give me the resources to use this rubbish for recycling and producing electricity. Until then I will continue to leave rubbish outside his home. You will not be able to sleep Mr CM,” he said.

Alamgir, who started the #FixIt campaign in January this year by spray painting the provincial chief’s face next to open manholes and garbage piles, was arrested on Thursday by the Civil Lines police.



Alamgir was on his way to CM House to create a garbage dump outside the premises when he was apprehended along with the driver of the tractor he was on.

The police tried to stop the tractor when it entered the red security zone. It led to a scuffle after which Alamgir was arrested. An FIR under Pakistan Penal Code section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) has been lodged against him at Civil Lines police station.

Earlier on Thursday, Alamgir had uploaded a video on social media announcing his plans to create a garbage dump outside CM House. He wanted the government and the people to realise their responsibility towards keeping the city clean.

Alamgir, who belongs to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had clarified that his #FixIt campaign was apolitical. However, some PTI workers and leaders gathered at the police station to support him following the arrest.

PTI’s Imran Ismail told The Express Tribune that Alamgir’s campaign was not endorsed by the party but, since he is an old member, they will make efforts to get him released.

Alamgir’s FIR was registered at Civil Lines but he was taken to Artillery Maidan police station, shared Ismail. “When I reached Artillery thana [police station], the police told me that they have taken him to Darakhshan police station, where I met him.” However, Darakhshan’s duty officer Ghulam Yasin denied that Alamgir was in their custody.



As news of Alamgir’s arrest was broadcast, his supporters took to social media. By Thursday evening, #ReleaseAlamgirKhan was the top trend in Pakistan. Some supporters also reached the police station, where they blocked the road and demanded his release.