LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: A number of leaders and workers are reported to have been picked up in police raids across Lahore and Islamabad in what has been reported as an overnight massive crackdown against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), hours after its Chairman Imran Khan announced to hold public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan on Wednesday (March 22).
بریکنگ
پی ٹی ائی کے سینکڑوں کارکنوں کو گرفتار کر لیا گیا ہے، فواد چوہدری pic.twitter.com/2rLF1OKnOE— MM News (@mmnewsdottv) March 20, 2023
The PTI spokesperson said Islamabad Police searched Senator Shibli’s house and harassed the family and employees present in the house at the time of the raid.
Ten years old kid was taken into custody when police couldn’t find his father at home… this is Pakistan that we are living in… pic.twitter.com/MK2seGzHgv
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 19, 2023
After coming to know about raid at the residence of Shibli Faraz, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani expressed concern and urged police to respect the sanctity of the home as Faraz was a member of the Senate. He directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad to provide a detailed report of the incident without delay.
پولیس کا تحریک انصاف کی رہنما مسرت چھیما کے گھر پر ریڈ۔
فاشیزم کی حدیں پار کی جا رہی ہیں۔ pic.twitter.com/dlRtGeNntP— Cornered Tigers (@TigersCornered) March 19, 2023
The Capital police raided the house of PTI leader Anjum Tanoli in G-6 Islamabad. According to the family, the police officials took Tanoli’s 10-year-old nephew with them. However, the boy was later released from police custody.
Police arrested the father of PTI’s Noman Gujjar in Sector G-7 Islamabad. Moreover, police also arrested the PTI worker Raja Shahid during a raid at his shop. PTI leader Liaquat Tori was arrested from the Phulgran area.
This is a terrorist state. Without any cause, the police officer, masked to remain anonymous, is breaking into PTI leaders’ house.pic.twitter.com/siBopaRre4
— Cornered Tigers (@TigersCornered) March 19, 2023
The houses of PTI’s Raja Khurram Nawaz and Ali Muhammad Khan were also raided in Islamabad.
In Lahore, police raided the house of former MPA and PTI leader Zaheer Abbas Khokhar, however, he was not present at his residence. Khokhar strongly condemned the police raids at the houses of the PTI leaders.
Police also conducted raids at deras of PTI leaders Mian Aslam Iqbal, Mian Afzal Iqbal and Mian Amjad Iqbal. A raid was conducted at PTI leader Chaudhry Umar Talib’s residence. Police arrested Talib’s brother Chaudhry Umair and an employee Hafiz.
آ گئی پھر سے pic.twitter.com/XdGRp170eg
— Sanam Javaid Khan (@sanamkh22) March 19, 2023
The house of PTI central leader Shafqat Mahmood was also raided in Lahore’s Defence area.
The office and house of PTI leader Malik Waqar Ahmed Gujjar were also raided by police in Lahore.
یہ چوروں کی طرح رات کے ڈیڑھ بجے ہمیں احتجاج سے روکنے آئے ہیں. اور اگر یہ سب اتنا ہی آئینی و قانونی ہے تو چوروں کی طرح منہ کیوں چھپانے پڑ رہے ہیں. pic.twitter.com/r4vnenW38j
— Jamshed Iqbal Cheema (@Jamshediqbalch) March 19, 2023
Moreover, police also raided the houses of PTI candidates in the upcoming elections.
In the PP-146 constituency, the house of PTI candidate Mian Salman Shoaib was raided by police. Moreover, PTI candidate Farooq Khan’s house was also raided in the PP-145 constituency.
