Dozens arrested as PTI holds rallies in various cities on Imran’s call

In an attempt to hold rallies in various cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists, following the instructions of party’s founder Imran Khan, faced a crackdown by the police, resulting in multiple arrests, Express News reported. According to details, the police conducted raids in Rawalpindi’s Jatli area, arresting at least 10 PTI workers. In Rawalpindi's NA-56 constituency, PTI activists took out a rally that concluded on Saeedpur Road amid tight security. The participants raised slogans against the government and displayed PTI flags along with images of Imran Khan. Read more: PTI announces public rallies in a lead-up to Feb 8 polls A similar scenario unfolded in Peshawar, where a rally was halted by the police on Ring Road. Clashes erupted between the police and PTI workers, leading to several arrests. ملک بھر میں #خان_کی_کال_پر_لبیک کہتے ہوئے تمام پاکستانیوں کی اپنے علاقوں میں الیکشن ریلیوں میں شرکت۔ pic.twitter.com/f7OeTjBohD — PTI (@PTIofficial) January 28, 2024 According to the police, PTI activists were not granted permission for the rally, and anyone found on the road without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) would be arrested. In Karachi, PTI organised a rally in Clifton area, where the police took more than 50 activists into custody. Read: Bat-less PTI locked out of parliamentary politics In NA-119 Lahore, a rally led by PTI-supported candidate Mian Shahzad Farooq witnessed massive participation of people. کراچی والوں نکلو عمران خان کی خاطر، اپنے ملک پاکستان کی خاطر، اور تین تلوار پر تحریکِ انصاف کی ریلی میں شامل ہوں!!! #نکلو_خان_کی_پکار_پر#خان_کی_کال_پر_لبیک pic.twitter.com/DxgnsztksL — PTI Karachi (@PTIKarachi_) January 28, 2024 In another post on PTI's Lahore social media platform X, multiple videos showed a large number of people coming out in support of the party. "Rallies are being held everywhere. Despite police brutality, no one will be able to save the runaway Nawaz on February 8." said a tweet Earlier in the day, former federal minister and PTI leader Hammad Azhar said that his elderly father, former Punjab governor Mian Azhar was "arrested" by the police prior to an election rally.  In a post on social media platform X, Hammad said that his 82-year-old father, an independent candidate supported by PTI running for the NA-129 constituency, intended to "exercise his democratic and constitutional right by leading a rally". "Pakistan has today been reduced to a total fascist state with zero human rights or rule of law. One Nawaz Sharif & his daughter calling the shots and ruining the country." My 82 year old father arrested. He wanted to lead a rally as per his democratic and constitutional right. Pakistan has today been reduced to a total fascist state with zero human rights or rule of law. One Nawaz Sharif & his daughter calling the shots and ruining the country. pic.twitter.com/BEdx5EX60h — Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) January 28, 2024 Earlier this week, PTI's founder, Imran Khan, directed all PTI candidates for national and provincial assemblies in Lahore to participate in a power show today. PTI announced its intention to conduct public rallies nationwide in a lead-up to the Feb 8 general elections. کراچی تین تلوار کلفٹن پر تحریکِ انصاف کی ریلی میں شامل شرکاء پر پولیس کی جانب سے آنسو گیس شیلنگ شروع!!!! پہلے لاٹھی چارج، کارکنان پر بدترین تشدد جب اس سے بھی کراچی کے شہریوں کے حوصلوں کو توڑ نہ سکے تو اب آنسو گیس شیل برسانا شروع ہوگئے ہیں۔#نکلو_خان_کی_پکار_پر… pic.twitter.com/s86vdeTjzT — PTI Karachi (@PTIKarachi_) January 28, 2024 As the elections approach near, the party encounters significant obstacles due to an apparent rise in authoritative actions by the state apparatus, particularly in Punjab, the nation's largest province. Facing a lack of equitable opportunities, PTI has resorted to an innovative approach, utilising the internet and social media for their election campaign. Following an unsuccessful legal battle to protect its iconic election symbol "bat," the party has sequentially launched websites to assist voters in identifying PTI-backed candidates and their respective symbols. This is PTI's first major countrywide power show after the May 9 protests May 9 events The party found itself in hot water following the events of May 9, when in an unprecedented show of vandalism, protesters allegedly belonging to the PTI, vandalised public and state properties and even attacked the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and Lahore’s Jinnah House, where the corps commander was residing. The attacks occurred hours after the paramilitary Rangers arrested the PTI chief in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case – later retitled as the £190 million scandal – on the orders of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), from the Islamabad High Court premises. The rioting was followed by a harsh crackdown against the former ruling party leaders and activists.

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