A number of leaders of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s get together have been arrested on Saturday because it held rallies to mark February Eight as ‘Black Day’ over the alleged rigging of the overall elections final yr.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held its most important rally in Swabi, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the place the get together is in energy. It additionally requested its staff and supporters to protest throughout the nation.
Earlier, the get together had deliberate a rally at Lahore nevertheless it was denied permission by the Punjab provincial authorities. Punjab authorities had imposed restrictions on gatherings underneath part 144. Nonetheless, regardless of that, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) held a rally in Lahore to mark the completion of 1 yr of the federal government.
Addressing the Swabi rally, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Khan stated that Pakistani politics was incomplete with out Imran Khan and urged the institution to dismiss the “fabricated circumstances” filed in opposition to the previous prime minister by the “mandate thieves”.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, in a message to the military chief, stated there’s terrorism within the province and to win the conflict in opposition to terrorism, unity was important.
Gandapur stated the ‘Black Day’ was being marked to protest the “historic theft of the individuals’s mandate” and stated will probably be noticed yearly.
Addressing the federal government’s alleged involvement in final yr’s November 26 and Could 9, 2023 occasions, Gandapur claimed the ruling get together was afraid to type a judicial fee to research these issues.
The chief minister stated that when PTI requires revolution, their opponents will be unable to bear it and accused the Shehbaz Sharif-led federal authorities of inciting the general public.
In accordance with native impartial circles, the rally noticed a low turnout. Convoys of PTI staff travelled from Nowshera, Kohat, and Jamrud to hitch the rally.
Earlier, the get together had deliberate a rally on the historic Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore. The plan was, nevertheless, shelved due to the denial of permission from Punjab province authorities.
The Punjab provincial authorities, led by Maryam Nawaz, imposed Part 144 throughout the province, banning all political assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations, protests and different such actions on February 8.
A heavy contingent of police was deployed in and across the venue to cease the PTI staff from reaching the venue. The police arrested those that held protests in teams.
PTI’s incarcerated vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s daughter Mehr Bano Qureshi was amongst dozens of get together staff arrested in Multan metropolis of Punjab province on Saturday.
She together with different PTI staff held an indication in opposition to the “puppet authorities” put in by way of a stolen mandate.
Others who have been arrested included Zahid Bahar Hashmi and Dalir Meher at Pull Chatta for violating Part 144.
Nonetheless, the PML-N flouted Part 144 in Lahore and held a rally to have fun the profitable completion of 1 yr of its authorities.
Police personnel have been deployed on the PML-N’s public gathering to supply safety to the members. Federal Data Minister Attaullah Tarar addressed the gathering.
Opposition Chief in Punjab Meeting Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar stated, “Human rights violations have witnessed subsequent degree in Pakistan” and added that the “TikToker authorities” ought to chorus from issuing unconstitutional orders.
In the meantime, in Muzaffarabad, a number of PTI staff have been detained for making an attempt to protest at Azadi Chowk. A few of them, nevertheless, managed to flee when safety forces cracked down on the demonstrators.
PTI chief Khawaja Farooq escaped police custody when he was positioned in a employee’s automobile as an alternative of a police automobile.
The motive force, sensing the scenario, drove off earlier than police may react. Officers chased the automobile on foot however have been unable to apprehend him.
Nonetheless, Farooq, who can be the chief of the opposition in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s legislative meeting, was later arrested, an official stated. The official stated 16 others have been additionally arrested.
Individually, Part 144 was imposed throughout Balochistan for 15 days.
Shahid Rind, the Balochistan authorities spokesperson, stated the Dwelling Division had issued an official notification.
“There can be an entire ban on the show and use of weapons and a ban has been imposed on sit-ins, processions and gatherings of greater than 5 individuals for 15 days,” it stated.
In Islamabad, Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif accused the PTI of utilizing authorities equipment and staff to fill its February Eight public gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a submit on X, Asif stated that regardless of being in energy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI continued to allege election rigging. He additional alleged the province’s public funds can be misused to organise the occasion.
“If you wish to maintain a political gathering, come to Punjab, Sindh, or Balochistan — locations the place you declare injustice has been executed to you,” he stated.
Punjab Data Minister Azma Bokhari too echoed the sentiment and in a press convention in Lahore, additional criticised the provincial authorities’s efficiency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
She accused the PTI of making an attempt to pull all the nation into its distress and stated: “Whereas the PTI itself cries, it needs all the nation to weep.”
