TOBA TEK SINGH: Ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) scheduled sit-in protest in Islamabad, police have launched a widespread crackdown across various districts, arresting dozens of PTI leaders and activists.

Gojra City police late on Friday arrested PTI-backed MPA from PP-118 Asad Zaman Cheema in a bid to restrain activists from traveling to Islamabad.

Nawan Lahore police also detained PTI activist Mian Muhammad Faheem from his residence in Chak 338 JB.

Previously, police had arrested district PTI President Advocate Mian Abdul Basit and Insaf Youth Wing General Secretary Sheikh Hasan Raza and shifted them to the district jail.

Raids were conducted at the homes of PTI supporters in Pirmahal, Gojra, Kamalia, Rajana and Toba Tek Singh, but most activists were not present.

In Faisalabad, a raid at the residence of PTI Youth Wing General Secretary Ayub Khan led to the arrest of his elder brother, Usman Khan, while Ayub evaded capture. Police also raided Rana Zaheer Ahmad’s outhouse in Neggapur but detained a servant instead.

SAHIWAL: Pakpattan police arrested 65 PTI workers and conducted raids at over two dozen locations in Arifwala and Pakpattan tehsils.

Later, 54 workers were released on their written assurance that they would not take part in the protest.

Despite the crackdown, local leaders and office-bearers managed to evade arrest and reportedly reached Islamabad through alternative routes. Among those avoiding capture was former MNA Rao Hasim.

Police sources confirmed that 286 personnel have been dispatched to Attock to safeguard routes against protesters.

OKARA: Police detained over 50 PTI activists at various police stations.

Among those arrested were Abdul Hannan, Allah Ditta, Muhammad Afzal, Hakeem Sajid, Muhammad Iqbal, Waheed Tasawwar, Chaudhry Saeed Ahmad, Ihsanullah, Asad Raza, Muhammad Azam, Abdul Majeed, Amir Maqbool, Ahmad Hasan Chishti, Riaz Jura, Amir Hussain, Muhammad Aslam Kharl, Talha Siddique and Qasim Ali.

Police have yet to register cases against the detainees and have declined to confirm the total number of arrests.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2024