PTI, JI observe 'Black Day'

'Authorities try to end peaceful protest, arrest scores of workers and supporters'

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Sindh, observed Saturdya, February 8, 2024, as a "Black Day" in protest against the 'theft'of the people's mandate in the general elections. The PTI held strong protests across various cities of Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Larkana, and several others, against the manipulation of the electoral process. At Karachi Press Club, police attempted to halt the protest, and over 25 PTI leaders and workers were arrested across different cities during efforts to suppress the protests.

The protests focused on the theft of the mandate and the demand for the release of PTI chairman Imran Khan. PTI's workers and leaders showed remarkable determination, and the number of participants increased steadily as the protests unfolded across the region. PTI leadership declared that they would not back down from their struggle and that the protests would continue until their rights were restored.

In Karachi, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, Karachi President Raja Azher, and General Secretary Arsalan Khalid led a large protest at Karachi Press Club, highlighting the theft of the people's mandate. PTI's winning candidates, based on Form 45, held rallies and marches across different constituencies of Karachi, culminating in the protest at the Press Club. The PTI Women's Wing, Labour Wing, Youth Wing, and other district leaders and workers from PTI participated in large numbers. Despite heavy police deployment around the Press Club, the protest was held at Fountain Chowk, where strong slogans were raised against the "fake government" formed through mandate theft.

Meanwhile, JI Ameer Monem Zafar has condemned what he described as "establishment-sponsored rigging" of the February 8, 2024 general elections.

Addressing the protesters outside the Election Commission of Pakistan's Sindh office on Saturday, the JI leader vowed that his party would continue to resist the "products of Form 47," referring to the current coalition government and those responsible for installing it.

The protest, which was part of a nationwide "black day" observed by JI, marked the anniversary of what the party considers the "rigged" 2024 elections. This protest was in response to the appeal made by JI Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. Participants carried placards and banners, chanting slogans against the "products of Form 47" and calling for justice.