PTI’s Salman Akram Raja freed amid uproar

The senior lawyer was arrested by security personnel earlier in the day

LAHORE:

PTI leader and senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja was arrested on Saturday in Lahore as the party protested alleged rigging in the February 8 elections.

Surrounded by security personnel and media persons, Raja said he stood "with the people of Pakistan" as the police dragged him towards their vehicle.

“I am with the people of Pakistan”

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Salman Akram Raja’s statement before his unlawful arrest by police: pic.twitter.com/HJqAWDT1og

— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 17, 2024

Later in the day, Raja, taking to X, said that he has been released.

مجھے رہا کردیا گیا ہے۔

— Salman Akram Raja (@SalmanAkramRaja) February 17, 2024

On February 15, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar announced the initiation of nationwide protest demonstrations for Saturday (today) against perceived rigging in the general election.

He invited all political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, Grand Democratic Alliance, Awami National Party, and others, who believe their mandate was stolen, to join the protest for democracy, rule of law, and freedom.

PTI, JI unite against poll rigging

Last night, in a significant development, a delegation from the PTI met with leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, where both parties expressed their concerns over the alleged rigging in the recent general elections and announced a joint protest against the perceived irregularities.

PTI leader and former speaker of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, addressed the media after the meeting, stating that the two parties had a one-point agenda at this time – to protest against what they termed as "rigged" elections.

Read PTI asserts majority, urges respect for public mandate

Qaiser emphasised that the level of rigging alleged in this election is unprecedented, prompting the need for collective action among parties that have raised their voices against it.

"We have decided to meet all the parties who raised their voice against this rigging. We will sit together and think about the next course of action. Decisions will not be made in closed rooms. At this time, the country is moving towards instability, and we will also fight a legal battle," said Qaiser.

He announced a nationwide protest scheduled for Saturday, urging people to participate in the peaceful demonstration. Qaiser emphasised the commitment to strengthening democracy and assured that the struggle against alleged rigging would continue.

PTI protestors arrested

Last week, the PTI once again found itself under the hammer after its workers and supporters hit the streets nationwide, accusing the system of electoral trickery and result manipulation in the general elections.

A number of PTI workers, leaders, candidates, voters, and supporters mobilised across various constituencies, alleging tampering with election outcomes to undermine their democratic mandate.

Demonstrations mushroomed across several cities including Lahore, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Sumundari, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Mansehra, Peshawar, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Karachi, and others.

Provincial administrations responded by deploying substantial police forces in most of these areas where the party announced assemblies to voice their dissent against alleged attempts to undermine the public mandate bestowed upon the nation's most prominent political entity.