Crackdown against PTI intensifies

Police arrest dozens of supporters of Imran Khan, carry out raids and register FIR for violating Section 144

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD:

 

Police have arrested dozens of supporters and aides of former premier Imran Khan in raids in two cities as part of a crackdown on those involved in recent clashes with the security forces, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and police said on Monday.

Supporters of Imran-led PTI clashed with police in the city of Lahore last week as they attempted to arrest him at his home, and later with police in Islamabad as he arrived to appear appear before a court on Saturday.

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"Around 285 PTI supporters have been arrested in Lahore and Islamabad. Houses of all major leaders were raided by police last night," Imran’s aide, Fawad Chaudhry, told Reuters.

The former premier is facing several legal cases, including one that prompted a failed attempt to arrest him on Tuesday after a court issued warrants for his arrest for not appearing before it. Clashes between his supporters and the security forces have brought a new round of political chaos to Pakistan, which is in the midst of a crippling economic crisis.

Police in both Lahore and Islamabad confirmed the raids and the arrest of PTI workers they said were involved in clashes with police and arson. "Police are raiding the houses because seven cases on various charges, including terrorism, have been registered against the leaders and workers," Lahore police chief Bilal Kamiana said referring to the clashes with police.

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He said 125 activists had been arrested in Lahore, including some last week. In Islamabad, a police spokesman 198 PTI supporters had been arrested in connection with arson and attacks on police in which 58 people were injured and more than a dozen vehicles, including some police cars, were set ablaze. More raids were being carried out, the spokesman said.

He said police had also gone to the home of a sitting PTI senator, Shibli Faraz, with a search warrant, but the senator was not home. Imran, remembered by many for his success as a cricket player and later for his charity work, won considerable support among sections of the electorate with his conservative, nationalistic policies.Section 144 and raidsMeanwhile, police continued their crackdown against PTI workers and leaders in several cities and registered cases against them for Late night raids were carried out on the houses of party leaders, including Ali Nawaz Awan, Shibli Faraz, Raja Khurram Nawaz and others.

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Islamabad police sources confirmed that action has been taken against the PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, for setting fire to homes and violating Section 144.

پی ٹی آئی مظاہرین کی اشتعال انگیزی، جلاؤ گھیراؤ، توڑ پھوڑ، پولیس پر حملے۔

اسلام آباد کیپیٹل پولیس نے مختلف کارروائیوں میں جلاؤ گھیراؤ کرنے والے 198 ملزمان کو گرفتار کرلیا۔ مزید گرفتاریوں کے لئے پولیس ٹیمیں چھاپے مار رہی ہیں۔⬇️

— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) March 20, 2023

".More workers are being detained after being identified through videos, the sources said and added that a renewed action will be launched against them on Monday night.

In a related development, PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur and men from his convoy also allegedly scuffled with the police stationed at Dajal checkpoint, police officials claimed and said the leader burst into a brawl with them while he was on his way to Dera Ismail Khan.

The police said all vehicles are checked in at the security post along the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab border. They said that Gandapur and his men fled after opening firing.

Later, in light of the incident, the police later registered a case under 13 provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), including terrorism.

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In the FIR, the police stated Gandapur reached the Dajal checkpoint with other vehicles and when they were stopped, the PTI leader and his armed associates started rioting.

Similarly, the police also raided the house of PTI's Tiger Force central president and vice president Mian Tariq house who alleged that the police stormed into his house while women were there and violated the sanctity of his home.

Besides, the authorities also raided the houses of other local leaders of the PTI throughout the day.

(With Input from Reuters)