KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has alleged that Karachi police have launched a ‘crackdown’ days before its Nov 12 rally and detain eight workers in different parts of Korangi.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, a PTI-Karachi spokesperson said that their whereabouts were not known even to their families. “These workers weren’t even nominated in any case and the party fears that they could be booked in any false cases,” the spokesperson said.

“This is sheer injustice and political vendetta. This all is happening at a time when workers across the city are busy preparing for the November 12 rally. This is actually a fear of those forces who want the PTI out of the electoral race.”

Last month, in a first move since a nationwide crackdown on the party started after the May 9 incidents, the PTI announced a public rally on Nov 12 in the city to start its election campaign.

Most senior PTI leaders have already gone underground or quit the party in the wake of the crackdown.

The party leaders on Tuesday held a meeting with deputy commissioner-East to fulfil administrative and legal formalities to stage the rally near the intersection at Millennium Mall of Stadium Road and Rashid Minhas Road.

The party said it was all set to stage a power show, but still unsure about the ‘mood’ of the administration.

“We have finalised all arrangements on our end,” said Barrister Fayaz Samor, the lawyer wing secretary of the PTI, after a meeting with the deputy commissioner of east with party colleagues.

“The doubts about the administration arise only because we haven’t received anything in writing. The administration has allowed us to stage a rally, but it’s all verbal. We expect the law will prevail and no hurdle would be put in place against our political, democratic and constitutional right.”

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2023