PTI workers booked in Lahore as KP CM announces Minar-e-Pakistan rally

FIR filed after protest in Ghalib Market; Afridi vows street movement and Sunday gathering in Lahore

LAHORE:

Police have registered a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers after a protest in Lahore’s Ghalib Market area during the visit of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

The protest took place when Afridi arrived in the area. Demonstrators allegedly blocked roads and chanted anti-government slogans, police said.

Those booked include Zain Khan Niazi, Jahanzaib Sohail, Ahmed Raza, Ali Rehman, Hassan Sajjad, Hafiz Shah, Muhammad Ihtisham, Aamir Naseer, Muhammad Wajid, Abdul Wakeel, Zakir Munir and Zameer Naseer.

According to the First Information Report lodged at Ghalib Market police station on Saturday, 20 to 30 unidentified suspects blocked the road, raised slogans against the government and caused public inconvenience.

Police said 13 people were arrested during the protest.

Sub-Inspector Imran Ahmed filed the complaint under sections 290 and 291 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Section 290 deals with punishment for causing public nuisance, while Section 291 applies when such nuisance continues after a warning.

Police said investigations were under way and further details would follow.

The case was registered amid heightened political tensions in Lahore, where Afridi is currently on a three-day visit.

Authorities imposed restrictions on gatherings in parts of the city to “maintain order,” officials said.

On Friday, Afridi was stopped at a Punjab Police barricade near Chakri, according to officials from his office.

Speaking at the site, he criticised the barricades and said “sealing accommodation and meal areas is a clear sign of fear.”

He said Punjab officials were “not elected representatives of the people” and accused them of trying to suppress political activity by blocking the movement of public representatives.

Read: Political tension grips Punjab Assembly amid K-P CM’s visit

At a press conference at the Punjab Assembly on Friday, Afridi said nations collapse when rulers focus on intimidating opponents instead of addressing real problems.

He said restrictions on meetings with PTI’s jailed founder Imran Khan exposed the government’s priorities at a time when people were facing insecurity, inflation and unemployment.

Earlier on Saturday, Afridi announced that PTI would hold a public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan at 6pm on Sunday as part of its street movement.

On Friday, he spent the first day of his visit greeting and addressing PTI supporters who met him at different points on his way to Lahore.

On Saturday, Afridi visited families of jailed PTI leaders he was not allowed to meet at Kot Lakhpat jail.

He met the families of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid and other party leaders.

Speaking later, Afridi rejected claims that PTI no longer existed in Punjab and announced the Sunday rally.

Without naming the party, he challenged the PML-N to compete over who could draw a larger crowd in each other’s province.

“They can select a ground of their choice. Let’s see who will bring more people,” Afridi said.

He added that rival parties could hold their rally next week.

“I will also set up the stage for them in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If they cannot provide transport to the people, I will also provide them with transport,” he said.

“They can hold a jalsa in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and I will hold one in Lahore.”

Afridi said jailed PTI leaders were in “wrongful confinement” and remained a source of strength for the party.

He praised them for standing with Imran Khan despite health issues and what he called “all the oppression and fascism.”