Rawalpindi police have filed a case against several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers, including party leader Seemabia Tahir, for staging a protest outside Adiala Jail, where party founder Imran Khan is currently detained, The Express Tribune reported.

The case has been filed under Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code, accusing the protesters of breaching the law, obstructing police officers, and causing damage to police uniforms. As a result of the protest outside Adiala Jail, six PTI workers, namely Naveed Akhtar, Noman Tariq, Zubair Hussain, Aqeel Khan, and Maqsood Zafar, have been arrested by the Rawalpindi police.

According to The Express Tribune, the case also includes the names of five additional individuals, Ahmed Hasan and Mubasher Kanju among them, alongside several others whose identities have not been disclosed. These individuals have been implicated in the protest outside Adiala Jail, as per the Rawalpindi police's report.

The Express Tribune reported that PTI has been staging protests nationwide, specifically in response to alleged rigging during the general elections held on February 8. The party is advocating for the return of what they claim to be their "stolen mandate" and the prompt release of their leaders, including former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan has been held at Adiala Jail since May 2023.

On March 10, PTI conducted nationwide protests alleging electoral manipulation during Pakistan's 12th national general election held on February 8. These demonstrations faced stringent crackdowns in Punjab, where a coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) currently governs. Scores of PTI workers and leaders, including Sardar Latif Khosa and Salman Akram Raja, were detained as a result.

The February 8 general elections saw PTI emerge with the highest number of successful candidates. However, the party has persistently accused the electoral process of being marred by rigging, amidst disruptions like the shutdown of cellular and internet services during polling.

During the India versus Pakistan match at the T20 World Cup 2024 in New York on June 9, an aircraft carrying a banner reading 'Release Imran Khan' was sighted over the stadium. PTI shared a video of this incident on their official X handle, captioning it 'Release Imran Khan'.

Imran Khan, aged 71 and serving as Pakistan's Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, has been detained at Adiala Jail since August 2023 on various charges, including the Toshakhana case and allegations related to an un-Islamic marriage.

Image source: ANI