Islamabad: In a fresh escalation of political tensions, Pakistan police on August 5 arrested more than 500 workers and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as the party marked the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment with nationwide protest rallies. The majority of the arrests reportedly took place in Punjab province, where authorities had imposed Section 144, which prohibits the assembly of four or more people.
The crackdown came after Khan, who has been held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since his August 5, 2023, arrest on corruption charges, issued a call for his supporters to take to the streets. According to a senior PTI leader, Zulfi Bokhari, the party’s followers responded in large numbers to protest against what he termed a “fascist regime.” Bokhari, who serves as Khan’s spokesperson for international relations and media, claimed that the government was trying to thwart the demonstrations by blocking highways and raiding the homes of party leaders and activists.
While Punjab police confirmed making arrests for violations of Section 144, the PTI leadership alleged heavy-handed tactics. Videos shared widely on social media showed police personnel manhandling protesters, including dragging elderly supporters. In one such incident, PTI’s chief organiser in Punjab, Aliya Hamza, claimed her car was attacked with clubs and she was injured. Another party leader, Musarrat Jamshed Cheema, posted a video of a police raid on her residence, criticising the government for what she called “tyrannical treatment.”
Despite the police action, a lawyers’ rally in Lahore’s Mall Road went ahead with police appearing to be more cautious. Protests were also reported in Okara, Sheikhupura, and Jhang, as well as in other provinces like Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Meanwhile, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser announced that party supporters would also gather outside Adiala Jail to protest what he called Khan’s “illegal confinement.” He reiterated a message from Khan that he is prepared to stay in jail for a decade for the sake of the people and the rule of law.
The government in Punjab had taken extensive security measures ahead of the protests, deploying thousands of policemen and paramilitary Punjab Rangers, especially in Rawalpindi and around Adiala Jail. The area around the jail was sealed off and a “red alert” was issued to prevent any untoward incidents. These measures, however, failed to completely deter the protesters, although the PTI’s performance in some areas, like Rawalpindi, was reportedly lacklustre.
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