PTI workers clash with police in Lahore on eve of power show

Hooligans of 'Tehreek-e-Fasaad' have started blocking roads and creating chaos, says Azma Bukhari

LAHORE:

Tensions escalated in Lahore as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters engaged in violent confrontations with police after the arrest of several party workers on the eve of their scheduled rally at Ring Road, Kahna.

The unrest led to roadblocks, tyre burnings, and significant disruptions across parts of the city.

The incident occurred in the wake of a larger crackdown by law enforcement against PTI activists amid ongoing political turmoil in the country.

The PTI, led by former prime minister Imran Khan, has been at odds with the PML-N-led coalition government, frequently organising protests and rallies to voice their grievances over what they describe as political victimisation and suppression of democratic rights.

According to local sources, police detained dozens of PTI workers, transporting them to an undisclosed location in a prison van. In response, outraged PTI supporters converged on Mini Market in Gulberg, blocking the main road and setting tyres ablaze.

The protest quickly escalated, with demonstrators hurling stones at police vehicles, causing damage and shattering windows.

A police spokesperson reported that the violence erupted near the Origa Centre in Gulberg during a routine police checkpoint.

Also read: PTI granted permission for Lahore rally at Kahna after LHC ruling

"A group of agitators interfered with the police’s official duties and resisted arrest," the spokesperson said. The police confirmed that several individuals involved in the attack on the police vehicle were apprehended and taken to the station for further questioning.

SP Model Town, Ahsanullah Tarar, stressed the importance of maintaining law and order in the city. "No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands," he stated. "We are committed to ensuring public safety and will take all necessary measures to prevent further disruption."

This unrest comes amid a broader campaign by PTI to galvanise support across Pakistan, with the party accusing the government of political persecution. PTI's leadership has repeatedly called on its supporters to take to the streets in protest, leading to a series of confrontations between party workers and law enforcement in various cities.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader Azma Bukhari condemned the actions of the PTI workers in a video shared on social media, accusing them of resorting to violence. "The hooligans of the 'Tehreek-e-Fasaad' have started blocking roads and creating chaos," Bukhari said. "When action is taken against them, they will start crying foul. They are roaming around Main Boulevard, Gulberg, while their so-called leaders preach about remaining peaceful. This is their true face."