LAHORE: Despite continuous police raids, harassment, and torture, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI’s) second- and third-tier leaders are holding protests occasionally against, what they say, the “fascism” unleashed by the Punjab government and the establishment.

The PTI workers yet again on Sunday gathered and came out onto the walled city streets, carrying party flags and chanting slogans – “Hai Haq Hamara Azadi” and “Kaun Bachaey Ga Pakistan – Imran Khan”.

As the protesters came out into the streets, local police raided and baton-charged them and allegedly arrested 10 PTI workers.

When a media person asked the Gawalmandi station house officer why he was arresting peaceful protesters, the policeman said, “This is our duty.”

Former PTI Lahore president Sheikh Imtiaz Mehmood tweeted that the police had raided peaceful protesters in the walled city and arrested 10 party workers. “We strongly condemn Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s fascism.”

PTI Lahore president Asghar Gujjar said the police raid and arrest of party workers were sheer terrorism. “The Form-47 government cannot make PTI founder chairman Imran Khan’s followers afraid,” he said.

Meanwhile, PTI Punjab information secretary Shaukat Basra shared a video clip of Indian Premier Narendra Modi, in which he said he had seen the security in Lahore when he landed there without a visa. “The Sharif family should listen to Modi’s sarcasm, in which he said he had landed in Lahore for a visit without a visa – on Nawaz Sharif’s invitation to attend his granddaughter’s marriage ceremony,” he stated.

Answering a question from the interviewer about Pakistan having nuclear power, Mr Modi stated that he had checked the power by personally going to Lahore. “I had gone to Lahore city without any security checks.”

Hammad Azhar asked the ruling Sharif family to respond to Narendra Modi. “When will you respond to Modi, if not now?” he asked, adding, “You are threatening the people of Pakistan daily, but unable to respond to the provocative statement of the Indian premier.”

In his response to the Indian premier’s statement, Mr Azhar said that Modi’s anti-Muslim politics had strengthened the ideology of Pakistan and exposed his fake secular ideology.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2024