Location: Pakistan
Law enforcement authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown across Pakistan on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and leaders in response to the party’s ongoing protests. The crackdown, aimed at maintaining law and order, has resulted in numerous arrests, particularly due to violations of Section 144, which prohibits gatherings.
Arrests in Punjab
Lahore
- PTI Punjab Information Secretary Hafiz Zeeshan and former MPA Nadeem Abbas were arrested from Lytton Road.
- 20 workers, including 12 women, were detained at Batti Chowk during operations led by DIG Operations.
- Six workers were arrested after police intercepted a PTI convoy in Shahdara.
- PTI ticket-holder Zameer Ahmed Jhedu was taken into custody near the High Court.
Faisalabad
- MPA Basharat Dogar was arrested from Sargodha Road.
- 485 PTI workers were detained for stone-pelting and violating Section 144.
Pakpattan
- Over 90 workers, including prominent leaders Umar Hashim, Talha Saeed, Tariq Shah, and Mehr Moin, were arrested.
Burewala
- Police arrested 65 workers from various precincts, including Model Town, Gaggu Mandi, and Sahuka.
Safdarabad
- MPA Waqas Mehmood Mann was apprehended during a police raid.
Chichawatni
- PTI MNA Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan was arrested on the Chichawatni bypass.
Multan
- Over 500 workers and leaders, including Malik Aamir Dogar and Zain Qureshi, were arrested during protests.
Dera Ghazi Khan
- Authorities arrested more than 38 workers, including Sardar Mohiuddin Khosa.
Preventive Arrests and Raids
Sahiwal
- 30 individuals were detained in advance to prevent their participation in upcoming protests.
Dunyapur
- A strict enforcement of Section 144 resulted in the arrest of 38 individuals, with cases filed against all violators.
Gojra
- Raids on workers’ homes led to the arrest of MPA Asad Zaman Cheema and others, while many activists have gone into hiding.
Arrests in Rawalpindi and Bhimbher
Rawalpindi
- Over 110 workers were detained, with entry and exit points in the city blocked by containers to restrict movement.
Bhimbher
- All routes from Azad Kashmir to Punjab were sealed, and PTI district president Chaudhry Asif Mahmood was also arrested.
