November 20, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 09, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 19: Police took into custody over a dozen PTI activists when they tried to stage a demonstration at Regal Chowk on The Mall. Led by former MNA Mian Sajid Pervez and Tariq Farooq Mirza, they were assembling at the venue when police caught them unaware.

They were bundled into police vans and shifted to Civil Lines police stations.

Police confirmed only six arrests under 16-MPO.

SAFETY CONCERNS: The Punjab women wing of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf says it is deeply concerned about party chairperson Imran Khan’s safety after the ‘foul play’ by the provincial administration in the arrest and shifting of the PTI chief.

Speaking at a news conference here on Monday, PTI Punjab women wing president Saloni Bokhari said the way Imran Khan was arrested and lodged in the custody of Sabzazar police station before he was first shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail and then Dera Ghazi Khan within 36 hours spoke of the provincial administration’s hostile attitude against Mr Khan.

She feared that Mr Khan might be handed over to forces inimical to him.

Ms Bokhari demanded the resignation of the Punjab IG pleading that the police chief had no justification to stay in office after brutalising a key political leader of the country. She said the suspension of a police constable was a mere eyewash and thus unacceptable.

She also condemned the incident that took place on Nov 15 as shameful because the PTI women were roughed up by the Punjab police when they were holding a peaceful demonstration to protest against the fake cases registered against Imran Khan under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

Besides, other women from all sections of society and students who wanted to lodge their protest were meted out an identical treatment, she added.

Ms Bokhati was of the view that the government had demonstrated lack of tolerance by denying the people to voice their protest through peaceful means and this could have a bearing even on polls.

She protested against curbs imposed on the media and said that the regime had created conditions which hardly promised free and fair elections.