Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police has launched a crackdown against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership involved in acts of arson, rioting and violent protests across the province.
Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaisar, his brother former MPA Aqibullah, former lawmakers Abdul Karim, Rangiz Ahmad, PTI district Swabi president Sohail Yousfzai, Swabi Tehsil Nazim Ataullah, former education minister Shahram Khan Tarakai’s brother Faisal Khan and around 200 PTI workers have been booked in Swabi district alone.
On Friday police withdrew security from the residence of Asad Qaisar. Police said that he had already been booked for rioting so no security will be provided to him.
Around 81 PTI workers have been arrested in Swabi and 61 of them shifted to Haripur prison.
“Police raided the residence of Shahram Khan Tarakai, Abdul Karim and others but they had already escaped,” said a police official while talking to The Express Tribune.
In Peshawar, former provincial minister Ishtiaq Urmar, former lawmaker Fazal Ilahi, Arbab Jehandad Khan, Malik Wajid and Asif Khan have been booked.
PTI sources said that police raided the houses of Malik Wajid, Haji Shaukat Ali, Arbab Sher Ali, Murad Saeed, and Aysha Bano.
PTI has also released the CCTV footage of police raids.
The party has threatened it will stage more protests if raids on the houses of PTI leaders and workers are not stopped.
PTI district president of Peshawar, Muhammad Atif Khan and Peshawar City head Irfan Saleem have announced that a protest will be launched if raids are not stopped.
In a video message, they said that police was raiding the houses of party workers and leaders without any rhyme or reason.
“Police are raiding houses without ladies police in order to please someone. They should respect the local culture and avoid doing such things,” he said.
They demanded of the caretaker chief minister to take notice of this and if he is helpless then resign from his post.
“Let us make it clear. If these raids are not stopped then it will be very difficult situation for all,” they said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2023.
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