Dozens of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers were reportedly arrested in Lahore amidst allegations of violent protests, prompting PTI leader Latif Khosa to vow continued demonstrations until their “mandate” is recognized.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, Khosa emphasized the party’s singular demand for an audit of election results, stating that the government must address this issue before progress can be made.
Khosa also called for the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, leaders, especially female leaders, and workers, asserting that the party will persist in its protests to defend the people’s right to self-governance and elect their representatives.
“I will register an FIR against them for kidnapping. We’ll see how this government can run,” he said referring to police’s arrest of PTI workers as abduction.
He asked the police to tell on whose order they were carrying out action against the political activists.
Khosa revealed his own experience at the police station where he was detained for six hours, highlighting that although he wasn’t mistreated, he asserted his immunity as a sitting MNA against arrest without permission from the National Assembly speaker.
Regarding the charges against PTI’s Salman Akram Raja for blocking roads, Khosa insisted that their protest was peaceful and demanded surveillance camera footage to verify if arteries were indeed obstructed.
Earlier, around 40 PTI leaders and workers were booked under serious charges including terrorism, abduction, interference in public affairs, and harassment, following protests on Mall Road in Lahore against alleged election rigging.
The FIR alleged that PTI leader Hafiz Farhat Abbas incited activists to damage public property and that Abbas, along with others, opened fire and assaulted a police constable.
It claimed that PTI leader Hafiz Farhat Abbas incited the party activists to damage public properties. Henceforth, they damaged a government vehicle too, it added.
Abbas along with four to five other unidentified persons opened fire and manhandled a police constable tearing his uniform, the FIR said adding police detained the PTI leader and recovered a pistol from him. The FIR mentioned that batons and clubs were recovered from 42 suspects arrested by police.
Meanwhile, several PTI leaders, including Latif Khosa and Salman Akram Raja, were taken into custody during police actions in various cities as the party staged nationwide protests against alleged election manipulation and theft of its mandate in the recent elections.
PTI supporters rallied in cities like Rawalpindi, Karachi, Kandhkot, and Tank, responding to the party’s call for demonstrations against what they perceive as electoral malpractice.
