Islamabad Police launched baton charges against participants of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Workers Convention on Thursday in Sector I-11 and arrested over 200 participants for protesting against the government.
PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi condemned the incident and stated that police have tortured peaceful members, including women, of the party. He said he and Asad Umar had organised this function to mobilise youth and when they reached the venue, the police had surrounded the venue and was arresting women and men. He said Islamabad assistant commissioner was leading the charge, adding that the court had called PTI leaders on October 31 and said that Islamabad Police was making the situation worse by torturing common people.
He said a clear divide was visible between autocratic and democratic thought in the country.
He demanded of the IG and AC to release the arrested PTI workers immediately otherwise they would be responsible for the consequences. He appealed to the masses to come out in great numbers against the Nawaz government.
TV grabs showed police manhandling participants, including women.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Talal Chaudhry accused PTI Chairman Imran Khan of carrying cocaine in his pocket, adding that Section 144 was applicable inside buildings as well.
Talking to a private news channel, PTI leader Asad Umar said no roads were blocked during the convention, adding that Section 144 could only be applied if daily activities were getting effected. He said police officials dragged women from their hair and manhandled them, adding that PTI’s November 2 protest could not be stopped through force. He said guest houses in the Capital were being issued written instructions to not house PTI workers and PTI banners were being pulled down.
PTI Punjab President Chaudhry Sarwar said the police’s crackdown was needless and the government should not have taken this step.
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