Differing versions: PTI alleges crackdown, police deny it

Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders issue statement deploring the ‘arrests’.

LAHORE:

As preparations for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) November 30 rally in Islamabad gain momentum, women workers of the party say they are prepared to deal with any obstacles placed by the government in their way on the day.

They also accuse police of raiding party workers’ houses to stop them from attending the rally.

PTI chairman Imran Khan has asked his supporters to reach Islamabad to take part in the sit-in that the party has been staging since mid-August against alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.

Earlier this week, the PTI’s Punjab chapter set up camps across the city to register those willing to attend the Islamabad rally.



The PTI’s youth wing has also been wooing support besides holding a sit-in at Lalik Jan Chowk in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA).

The PTI will take out a rally from Liberty Chowk to Data Darbar on November 28.

More than 50 women attended the PTI’s Lahore chapter meeting on Tuesday organised by the party’s Punjab Women’s Wing. The participants talked about the strategy to be adopted in case the government blocked the route.

They discussed alternate routes, modes of transportation and when to travel.

“Don’t wait for people to knock on your doors. If you want to contribute, make an effort,” PTI Punjab Women Wing president Saloni Bokhari told the participants.

Insaf Markaz coordinator Tanzila Imran Khan said a team had raided her house and had informed her family that she was involved in the attack on the PTV headquarters. Khan said she had gone into hiding following the raid. She said police had raided the residences of five other people affiliated with the PTI. Khan said these included Provincial Assembly Members (MPAs) Murad Raas and Sadia Suhail.

Rubina Fatima Aziz, a senior advisor to PTI Punjab Women Wing said the PTI leadership realised that it would be difficult for its activists to reach Islamabad. She said she was not in a position to comment on the number of supporters the party could gather.

Aziz said they had been encouraging workers to leave for Islamabad as early as possible. She said the earlier strategy of bussing large numbers of workers had been reviewed. The party was now considering various options including pooling cars. She said the PTI had learnt from the Azadi March experience.

Bokhari said PTI leaders had been receiving reports of crackdowns since Saturday. She said PTI leaders and workers were willing to court arrest if the need arose.

Speaking to The Express Tribune DIG Haider Ashraf categorically rejected the claims. He said the police had not detained any PTI activist and were not involved in any illegal activity.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2014.