Imran calls for countrywide protests as police 'storm' PTI's youth convention in Islamabad

Development comes hours after govt imposed Section 144 in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: As Asad Umar and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were to address Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) youth convention in Islamabad, capital city police stormed the gathering and arrested party workers.

Qureshi, present at the site, said the raid manifested dictatorial tactics of the ruling government, saying the workers nether had any weapons nor they were protesting. “On what basis they have arrested our party’s members?” he questioned.

In video footage, police could be seen thrashing the workers and taking them into custody. While the convention hall was sealed, sources said, the arrested workers were under custody at Kohsar police station.

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Govt has lost all senses! Disrupts & arrests ppl at r youth convention which was inside :hall! Police also attacked, abused, dragged r women

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) October 27, 2016

Clearly PMLN's badshahat has decided to use violence against PTI so now we all must stand firm against PMLN's fascism!

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) October 27, 2016

"The government has proved that there is no democracy in Pakistan, it is a monarchy," PTI lawmaker Asad Umar told reporters from the scene.

Nazish Altaf, a PTI youth leader, added: "We will not be deterred by arrests and more people will join us on November 2."

PTI spokesperson Naeemul Haq lashed out at the government for the unwarranted arrests of party workers. “I am convinced all Pakistanis are with the PTI and this government [PML-N] will be be out of power soon,” he told reporters. "Both Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif will be arrested.”

The development came hours after the government imposed Section 144 in Islamabad for two months. Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered authorities not to place any containers or block roads for PTI”s ‘Islamabad lockdown’ on Nov 2.

The order stated that though it is PTI’s right to register protest, no party will be allowed to siege the city. The party has planned a mass protest against rulers' alleged corruption.

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‘Attack on democracy’

Talking to Express News, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Khurram Nawaz Gandapur termed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a 'Gullu Butt', saying the attack was an attack on democracy. “The government wants to go violent such that women don’t step out of their homes,” he said.

‘Protests all over the country’

In retaliation, PTI chairman Imran Khan has announced country-wide protests on Friday.

“We're going to protest all over Pakistan tomorrow for the way they've manhandled our workers,” he said.

The party chief said he was hurt how the law enforcers treated his party’s female workers.

“You should be ashamed how you [PML-N government] treated the women. PTI will hold countrywide protests on Friday,” he said. “Even if they arrest us today, we will be on roads the very moment we get released.”

We're going to protest all over Pakistan tomorrow for the way they've manhandled our workers @ImranKhanPTI #ShameOnDictatorNawaz

— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 27, 2016

Rawalpindi could be shut down on Friday: Sheikh Rashid

Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rasheed said Rawalpindi could be shut down tomorrow. Talking to Express News, he censured the authorities for disrupting the PTI’s event.