Balochistan police arrested 44 PTI workers and leaders from various parts of the province on Wednesday as law enforcement agencies launched a crackdown against the PTI workers after violent clashes in Quetta following the arrest of Imran Khan.
Sporadic clashes between police and PTI supporters left one party worker dead and over a dozen injured on Tuesday.
“At least 11 PTI workers sustained injuries when police fired tear gas and used force against the peaceful protest,” PTI Balochistan President Munir Baloch claimed.
Baloch and other party workers and leaders went into hiding after the police launched a massive crackdown against them.
However, a senior officer in the Balochistan government said 11 police officials including three senior officers were injured when PTI workers threw stones at police and clashed with law enforcement agencies.
The officer requested anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Police conducted raids at the houses of former governor Balochistan, Syed Zahoor Agha and former deputy speaker National Assembly, Qasam Khan Suri.
Police arrested the younger brother of the former governor Balochistan during the crackdown.
All arrested PTI workers were shifted to various police stations in Quetta and other parts of the province.
Senior police officers have been interrogating the accused in custody for their involvement in damages to public and private property, a government official said.
Roads in the provincial capital presented a deserted look as local residents decided to stay indoors.
Security was tightened in the city to maintain order. Baton-wielding policemen were deployed at all sensitive locations to avert any untoward incident during the PTI’s protest rallies.
All mobile internet services remained suspended in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan on the instruction of the federal government.
The provincial government has already enforced section 144 and slapped a ban on all types of protests and political rallies in Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2023.
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