Arrested PTI leaders, activists released
The police crackdown drew strong criticism from the PTI chief Imran Khan and other senior leaders.
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Punjab police has released Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leaders and activists on the directive of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Saturday.
DIG Operations Roy Tahir confirmed that order was received from CM Punjab for release of the PTI workers.
"Protests like these create transport issues" he said.
To a question, the police official warned that crackdown will be launched again if the PTI workers continued their protest.
Police had raided PTI s protesting camp at Chairing Cross in front of Punjab Assembly and arrested several PTI leaders and other workers including female activists. They were protesting against the alleged rigging during by-elections.
DCO Naseem Sadiq said that protest could not be held at the Mall Road due to imposition of Section 144.
In the meantime, several roads were blocked and the citizens were facing difficulties.
Arrested leaders included opposition leader Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab Chapter Ejaz Chaudhry and PTI’s Information Secretary Andleeb Abbas.
The police crackdown drew strong criticism from the PTI chairman Imran Khan and other senior leaders.
Imran Khan said that peaceful protest was right of every citizen and the police torture on PTI workers had exposed the PML-N government.
PTI leader Shafqat Mehmood said that his party workers were subjected to torture on the behest of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
PTI leader Asad Umar said "staging protest is our democratic right and the situation will get worse if the arrested workers of were not released."
Ejaz Chaudhry said, “We will continue to protest against injustice.”
