Lahore police crack down on PTI activists ahead of planned protest
- In Reports
- 11:49 AM, Oct 14, 2024
- Myind Staff
In a pre-emptive move, Lahore police have arrested over 35 activists associated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party ahead of a major protest scheduled for October 15. This operation was part of a broader effort by the Punjab police to ensure security and prevent disruptions ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, set to take place on October 15-16 in Islamabad, as reported by ARY News.
Raids were conducted in various areas, including Defence, Kot Lakhpat, and Johar Town, targeting those suspected of organising the protest. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and founder of PTI has called for a demonstration to voice its political grievances, which have intensified the standoff between the party and law enforcement.
According to PTI's central information secretary, Sheikh Waqas Akram, the protest will be held at D-Chowk in Islamabad, where the party intends to draw attention to what it sees as unjust actions by the federal and Punjab governments. Akram emphasised that PTI protests in Punjab have been cancelled but demanded the immediate release of detained PTI leaders, workers, and Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) in the region.
He further accused the government of stripping PTI Chairman Imran Khan of his basic human rights, claiming that Khan's life is under threat due to state actions. Akram warned that if the situation remains unchanged, the party would mobilise people across Pakistan on October 15, ensuring a nationwide protest.
In response to these tensions, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, called on PTI to reconsider its planned protest in the "larger national interest." Dar, speaking after a visit to review arrangements for the SCO Summit, suggested that PTI's continued protests echo the disruptive events of 2014. He also mentioned that the protest had led to the postponement of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan, a significant diplomatic setback tied to the summit.
The police, while executing the arrests, reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining public safety and order during the summit but also stressed the importance of balancing this with the right to peaceful protest. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on Islamabad on October 15.
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