DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A protest demonstration was held here on Saturday against the suspension of DSP City Ghazi Abid Iqbal following his action to disperse workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Members of civil society, traders and representatives of various political and social organisations gathered at GPO Chowk, demanding of the provincial government to withdraw what they termed an unjust decision.

Among those who addressed the rally were former provincial minister Abdul Haleem Khan Qasuria, trader leader Chaudhry Jameel, social activist Shahid Raj and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam office-bearer Amber Nawaz. The participants raised slogans against the suspension and criticised the provincial authorities.

They said all political parties had the right to hold peaceful protests, but blocking roads and creating hardship for the public could not be justified in any civilised society.

They maintained that the DSP had acted within his mandate while dispersing the protesters and was later suspended for performing his duty.

The protesters urged the provincial government to immediately revoke the suspension.

It may be recalled that on Friday Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers had blocked the Dera–Darya Khan Bridge, suspending traffic towards the Punjab, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2026