Crackdown on PTI rallies amid election trail

LAHORE:

Law enforcement and police agencies launch a widespread crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and candidates across multiple cities on Sunday, following calls for rallies by imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan ahead of the February 8 general elections.

Several PTI supporters, attempting to organise rallies in various cities, including Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar, were taken into custody during crackdown amid intense crackdown.

The party candidates also alleged police raids on their election offices, confiscation of party paraphernalia, and the dismantling of banners and panaflexes, ostensibly aimed at intimidating party workers and voters.

Former Punjab governor and PTI candidate for NA-129 Lahore, Mian Muhammad Azhar, faced arrest by the police during an attempt to lead an election rally in his constituency.

His son, PTI Central Punjab General Secretary Hammad Azhar, took to X (formerly Twitter) and stated, "My 82-year-old father was arrested. He wanted to lead a rally as per his democratic and constitutional rights”.

“Pakistan has today been reduced to a total fascist state with zero human rights or rule of law. One Nawaz Sharif and his daughter calling the shots and ruining the country,” he added.

Following his release, Azhar told the media that he had not committed any crime, adding that his sole offence was organising an election rally ahead of the general elections.

Read more: PTI announces public rallies in a lead-up to Feb 8 polls

He lamented the apparent disparity in treatment as all political parties were allowed to conduct rallies and public gatherings, except the PTI.

Azhar further contended that the “so-called caretaker government is, in reality, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, serving the interests of its masters”.

Despite the challenges, he expressed confidence in his party's victory in the upcoming general elections, asserting that PTI voters remain undeterred by such tactics.

 

Karachi

Meanwhile, Karachi police arrested over 20 PTI workers as the party attempted to conduct an election rally in the metropolis.

Violent clashes erupted between PTI workers and police near Clifton Teen Talwar, transforming the area into a battleground.

Police attempted to disperse the PTI workers, leading to a confrontation where PTI workers threw stones and attacked the police with sticks.

Consequently, the SHO Boat Basin, a female police officer, and others sustained injuries. It took two hours for the police to control the situation using baton charges and tear gas.

Multiple PTI workers were detained and taken to an undisclosed location. The traffic flow near Teen Talwar, Clifton, was significantly disrupted due to the clashes.

As the police attempted to scatter them, PTI workers retaliated by assaulting them with stones and sticks. This led to injuries among several officials, including SHO Boat Basin Riaz Niazi, who was promptly taken to the hospital.

In response, the police resorted to baton charges and tear gas shelling to disperse the PTI workers, resulting in a deterioration of the condition of many PTI workers. The PTI workers also targeted the water cannon, preventing its use, and necessitating the relocation of the police water cannon to a secure location.

SSP South Sajid Amir Sadozai told Express Tribune that no prior permission was taken by PTI workers to hold a rally in Clifton. The PTI workers had blocked the road, following which the police asked them to clear the road. In reply, they attacked the police with stones and sticks as a result more than 10 police personnel including SHO Boat Basin and a lady SHO were injured. SHO Boat Basin's jaw was broken and he is in critical condition.

Read: Bat-less PTI locked out of parliamentary politics

He said that after the attack on the police, the police dispersed the angry workers.
According to SP Clifton Uzair Ahmed, a case will be registered against those who attacked the police under terrorism and other provisions.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the PTI shared footage depicting police personnel leading a man through a crowd of people, many of whom were carrying the party flag.

“Police are arresting peaceful people in Karachi during PTI’s rally. These are visuals of free and fair elections,” the party stated.

Another video shared by the party showed a large number of police personnel carrying sticks, with a party banner and several flags strewn on the ground.

 

“The police stormed the PTI rally with shamelessness and vandalised trucks and loudspeakers. On whose orders the people are being tortured for taking out a peaceful rally?” questioned the party.

“Using tear gas during an election rally is one of the most shameful acts by these caretakers showing their loyalty to Sharif and Zardari. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completely failed in their basic job,” asserted the party in another post.

PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan reported that police had arrested PTI Sindh General Secretary Ali Pal.

“We strongly condemn this action by Karachi Police. It is the constitutional right of every citizen to hold a peaceful rally during the election campaign,” he declared.

Peshawar

Similarly, in Peshawar, PTI workers held rallies across various locations in the city, including Ring Road. The police apprehended 30 individuals from Pahari Pura, Faqieerabad, Sharqi, Hayatabad, Khazana, and Sarband.

Moreover, cases were filed against over fifty workers and community leaders.

Seventeen individuals were mentioned in the FIR within the jurisdiction of Paharipura police station, with seven of them being taken into custody. Likewise, Faqeerabad police station detained seven workers.

Sarband police arrested 17 individuals, while Hayatabad and Sharqi police each apprehended three PTI workers.

According to senior Peshawar Police officials, obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) is a prerequisite for organising any rally sanctioned by the administration.

Conducting a rally without proper permission is considered a breach of the law, leading to the enforcement of Section 144 and subsequent arrests of individuals participating in the unauthorised gathering on the roads.

Earlier, PTI Chakwal candidate Ayyaz Amir reported a peculiar situation emerging in Chakwal involving the police. He highlighted instances of police raids on the homes of prominent local citizens, arrests of their family members, and acts of vandalism against local leaders.

Amir pointed to masked police officials instigating unrest, attacking workers' conventions on private properties, and intimidating and arresting PTI supporters. He questioned the role of the deputy commissioner, who is also the returning officer for the constituency, and district police officer, alleging either connivance or a lack of authority on their part.

Major election rallies were observed in various constituencies, including Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Okara, Chakwal, Mandi Bahudin, Layyah, Bahawal Nagar, Mansehra, Gagu Mandi, Chitral, Banu, Peshawar, Karachi, Hyderabad, and other cities.

With input from our Karachi and Peshawar correspondents