Crackdown on PTI shows no sign of let-up

PTI leader Shireen Mazari, ex-minister Yasmin, Balochistan minister rounded up

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/QUETTA: The police crackdown against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders showed no sign of let-up on Friday, as senior PTI leaders Dr Shireen Mazari and Dr Yasmin Rashid, as well as Balochistan Minister Mubeen Khilji, were arrested by police in raids carried out in Islamabad, Lahore, and Quetta.

According to officials, the Islamabad police raided Shireen Mazari's house during the wee hours of Friday. Her arrest came after a series of arrests of several other PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Omer Cheema, Ali Mohammad Khan, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry and others.

All of these leaders other than Imran were arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has also been arrested.

Our SVP Dr Shireen Mazari is being abducted in this precise moment. Police has also entered with guns her home, reaching a new low. Extremely shameful! pic.twitter.com/JKuqE1uosm

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 11, 2023

PTI leader Andaleeb Abbas said that the former minister had gone into hiding to avoid arrest.

"The police had taken her close family members into custody two days ago but her husband was released after his health deteriorated. Her brother-in-law is still in police custody.”

There are a number of cases filed against Dr Yasmin, including that of an attack on the Lahore corps commander's residence.

Balochistan Minister for Industries Khilji was rounded up for inciting violence among the public against the arrest of Imran.

A senior police official said Khilji was shifted to Quetta district jail. So far in Balochistan, police have arrested 72 workers and leaders of the PTI for damaging public and private properties.

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Meanwhile, sources said that PTI leaders Khusro Baktiar, Afzal Sahi and Bilal Basra had also been rounded up and shifted to Lahore's Sarwar Road Police Station.

As Imran appeared before the Islamabad High Court for the hearing of the Al-Qadir Trust case, police and Rangers personnel tried to stop the PTI supporters from reaching the court which turned G-11 and G-13 of the Srinagar Highway leading to the court a battleground.

The PTI workers arrived not only from adjacent areas of Islamabad but also from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and pelted stones at the police from 11am to 8pm.

Heavy vandalism was reported as well as a private vehicle was set ablaze at G-13.

The police fired heavy tear-gas shells to disperse the PTI workers. However, they regrouped again and again and pelted stones at the police so that they could reach the IHC building to express solidarity with their leader, but the Islamabad police, Rangers, and Punjab police continued tear-gas shelling at the workers, keeping them from reaching the court.

The Islamabad police spokesperson said that police were fired upon at G-11 and G-13.

Except for Faizabad Flyover, Srinagar Highway and No 26 Chongi, the situation in the entire city remained normal and no roads were blocked.

Further, more than 190 leaders, activists and protesters, including the central leaders of PTI, who were arrested from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, were detained at Adiala Jail.

The detainees included Shah Mahmood Qureshi Shireen Mazari, Asad Umar and others.