PTI Rawalpindi leaders all set to court arrest today

Scores of party workers, leaders gear up for 'Jail Bharo' drive

RAWALPINDI:

Leaders and workers of the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) Rawalpindi chapter will court arrest on Friday (today) under the ongoing “Jail Bharo” drive on the call of party chairman Imran Khan.

PTI workers and leaders including former federal minister Aamir Kiyani will present themselves for arrest, while former law minister Raja Basharat will present himself for arrest in front of RA Bazar police station.

PTI sources said that all former ticket holders from Rawalpindi will court arrest and if the police do not arrest them, stones will be pelted on police personnel.

On the other hand, authorities have decided to transfer the PTI leaders to other jails due to a lack of capacity for more prisoners in Adiala jail.

The Rawalpindi district administration and police said that the law-and-order will be maintained and those who violate the law will be arrested.

Police said that those who will court arrests will be transferred to Adiala and other jails as prisoner vans have been arranged to transport PTI leaders and workers to various jails.

Police sources said that a maximum of 50 court arrests were expected in Rawalpindi.

A prison van can carry 30 people and two prison vans will be present at different locations. Seven prisoner vans and 20 buses will be put on standby in the police lines.

Jail sources said that five prison vans have been kept on standby at the request of the Rawalpindi police. Strict security arrangements have been made in and around Adiala jail because of the court arrests by the PTI workers and leaders.

Sources said that Adiala jail was full to capacity and no more prisoners can be accommodated in the jail. Keeping in view the current situation, it has been decided to shift PTI leaders, who will volunteer arrests to other jails in the Rawalpindi region, the sources said. Elite commandos will be deployed along with the prisoner vans.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2023.