Imran banishes doubt, says will visit Sialkot today

Dismissing naysayers following the Sialkot ruckus on Saturday morning, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced that he will be visiting the city today and that there should be "no doubt" about it.

The remarks by the former premier came hours after Sialkot police stopped PTI workers' rally preparations at the CTI ground and arrested several of them, including party leader Usman Dar.

According to the Sialkot DPO, the PTI was attempting to hold a rally without permission in a place of worship, which was not permitted, and that the district administration had asked them to relocate the rally.

Taking a dig at the current government, Imran Khan said that its actions were "outrageous" but "not unexpected". He expressed  dismay over the developments and said that they abuse democracy in opposition and when in government.

Read Imran fires warning shot to govt over polls

Furthermore, the PTI chief said that his government never stopped any of their political rallies because his party was committed to democracy.

"I will be in Sialkot today & I am calling on all our ppl to come out & protest in their areas/cities after Isha prayers against this fascist Imported govt," the former premier stated.

Ruckus in Sialkot

The PTI workers were stopped by police and the district administration of Sialkot on Saturday from arranging a rally at the CTI ground with law enforcement resorting to tear gas and batons to disburse the party supporters who resisted the move.

Besides Usman Dar, other party supporters arrested included Umar Dar, Hafiz Hamid Raza, Ali Asjad Malhi, Mehr Kashif, Saeed Ahmed and Barrister Jamshed Ghias.

In videos doing the rounds on social media, the Sialkot DPO while talking to PTI members could be heard saying that no one was preventing the party from holding a rally in Sialkot, however, the grounds on which they stood were the private property of the Presbyterian American society. 

"You have not taken due permission from them [the owners of the grounds] and they are a minority group," he added. 

The DPO questioned if the state of Pakistan would not stand up against other groups who would arrive at a location without fulfilling the due processes.