Over 1,000 PTI supporters detained in Pakistan ahead of protests demanding Imran Khan’s release

More than 1,000 supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party were taken into custody on Friday, a senior PTI figure said, as authorities moved to prevent a planned mass rally targeting the country’s ruling leadership. The detentions came as the party readied a protest against what it calls the “Asim Law”, a phrase recently invoked by former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a message addressed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

Imran Khan, who founded the PTI, has been imprisoned since August 2023. The 73-year-old jailed leader is contesting multiple corruption-related cases while remaining a central figure in the opposition movement.

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PTI claims crackdown on workers in Punjab

Several PTI leaders were preparing to hold street protests across Punjab province with the stated aim of demanding the former prime minister’s release, according to a party report. However, PTI has alleged that ahead of the protests, a large number of its workers were detained, and vehicles carrying party leaders were stopped from entering Lahore.

PTI leader Moeen Riaz Qureshi, who is also the opposition leader in the Punjab assembly, said in a statement, “In a crackdown on PTI workers in Lahore, police arrested more than 1,000 workers.” He further claimed that Punjab Police stopped vehicles of PTI supporters who were accompanying senior party leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi.

Qureshi said, “Afridi has reached Lahore to start this fresh street movement against the government. However, Punjab Police stopped dozens of vehicles of PTI supporters from entering Lahore. They were accompanying Afridi.” He also said police blocked entry and exit points to monitor PTI workers.

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Nationwide protest plans and official response

PTI has previously attempted at least twice to stage nationwide street protests. The latest plan was announced a day after a court sentenced Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years each in jail in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case.

Earlier this week, Khan had reportedly asked Afridi to lead protests against ‘Asim Law’ in a post on X. “My message for Sohail Afridi is to prepare for a street movement. The entire nation must rise for its rights. To strive for justice is a sacred duty, and I am ready to lay down my life for Haqeeqi Azadi (true freedom) of my nation,” he wrote. Khan added that Pakistan is currently being ruled solely by ‘Asim Law’, a reference to chief of defence forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Speaking to the media, Afridi said PTI workers were prevented from travelling to Lahore from several parts of Punjab. “Democratic governments do not do things like this,” he said. Meanwhile, Punjab information minister Azma Bukhari welcomed Afridi to Lahore but said the government would not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands.