Court orders police not to arrest PTI workers

• 35 PTI activists arrested during crackdown in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial, Pasrur tehsils
• PTI workers advised to reach Islamabad in small groups

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has stopped police from arresting any Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers till today (Wednesday).

A full LHC bench on Tuesday heard petitions pertaining to PTI’s ‘Azadi March’ and arresting the party’s workers. The court summoned Punjab Inspector General Police and Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) on Wednesday morning.

During the proceedings, PTI’s counsel informed the court that PTI Chairman Imran Khan could not be contacted. The court directed the counsel to present Khan’s stance on resolving matters during the next hearing.

The attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) informed the court of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the federal government’s willingness to hold dialogue with opposition parties.

The AGP said that the Sharif, being a democratically elected premier, would not resign under political pressure.

Earlier, the court had directed the AGP and the PTI counsel to consult the PM and Khan, respectively and submit their replies to the court.

A written reply by the PM submitted before the court by the AGP states that the PM is ready to meet Khan if invited but would not succumb to the pressure being built by PTI.

Meanwhile, the PTI counsel told the court that he would contact Khan by Tuesday evening. The bench directed the respondents to submit their replies in court before 12 a.m on August 13.

35 PTI WORKERS ARRESTED IN SIALKOT:

In the meanwhile, police on Tuesday arrested 35 PTI activists including PTI Sialkot District Secretary Information Ehtisham Khalid Janjua, during the ongoing crackdown against PTI workers in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils.

Speaking to reporters, PTI Central Deputy General Secretary Umer Dar expressed concerns that the police was harassing PTI workers and conducting raids at their offices and residences.

He alleged that the raiding teams of police were misbehaving with females and also arresting the brothers and fathers of the PTI workers.

PTI’S MARCH POLICY:

In backdrop of the current political environment, PTI has changed its policy and has advised the party’s workers, who are set to start off from Lahore towards Islamabad on August 14, to reach the destination in small groups.

PTI Central Information Secretary Shireen Mazari has reportedly said that the arrests of 35 PTI workers have charged the other workers whereas PTI Senior Vice President Asad Umer said that the ‘Azadi March’ would witness “unprecedented energy”.

Meanwhile, a large number of PTI workers were seen outside the PTI chief’s Lahore residence at ZamanPark which was charged with political excitement. The workers, including women, could be seen waving the national and PTI flags at their camps while singing and dancing to national songs.

Even rain in the city failed to disperse the charged crowd.

A heavy contingent of police has been deployed in the area to ensure security and peace.