PTI to 'shut down' Islamabad if Imran Khan arrested

Party leader says all routes leading towards Islamabad to be shut, party to hold sit-in till 'imported govt' ousted

PESHAWAR:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said on Thursday that it will shut Islamabad down and hold country-wide protests in case of party chairman Imran Khan's arrest.

The plan of action was decided in a meeting of the PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Advisory Committee.

The meeting was held in Islamabad under the leadership of PTI’s provincial president Pervaiz Khattak; senior leaders including Asad Qaiser, Nurul Haq Qadri, Azam Swati, Ali Amin Gandapur, Omar Ayyub, Shehryar Afridi, Atif Khan, Shaukat Yousafzai and Shahram Tarkai were also present.

K-P Labour Minister Shaukat Yousafzai said, “In case of Imran Khan's arrest, all routes leading towards Islamabad will be shut down and a sit-in will be held until the 'imported government' is ousted.”

The provincial minister condemned the government for filing false and baseless cases against the party chief as well as other PTI leaders.

Read Govt sends mixed signals on arresting Imran Khan

It was further reported that the PTI chief has summoned party officials and provincial youth presidents at a meeting in Islamabad tomorrow. The legal aspect, political situation of the country and other important matters will be discussed in the meeting and the senior leadership will be consulted regarding the march towards Islamabad.

Last month, the PTI leaders had asked party workers and supporters to take to the streets to protest against the possible arrest of the former prime minister.

The call was given after PTI chairman Imran was booked in a terrorism case on the complaint of Islamabad Saddar Magistrate Ali Javed for allegedly threatening the additional sessions judge of the federal capital, Zeba Chaudhry.

Answering the call, PTI workers and supporters continued flocking to Bani Gala, the residence of PTI chief Imran Khan.

Several PTI bigwigs were also present at Imran’s residence in Bani Gala.