PESHAWAR: The workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Tuesday evening staged protest demonstrations in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against teargas shelling at the residence of their party chairman Imran Khan in Zaman Park, Lahore.

The protest rallies were staged on the call of Imran Khan. Scores of activists of PTI held demonstrations in Peshawar, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Khyber, Bajaur, Buner, Nowshera, Mansehra, Mardan, Kurram and other areas of the province.

The demonstrations remained peaceful and the agitators dispersed after lodging a brief protest. The protestors chanted slogans in favour of their leader Imran Khan and vowed to stand with him till their last breath. They also chanted slogans against police.

In Peshawar, PTI workers gathered outside the building of Peshawar Press Club. After demonstrating at the press club, they marched on different roads of the city.

Rallies, held on call of Imran Khan, remain peaceful

The protesters also blocked the busy Khyber Road outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, which resulted in suspension of vehicular traffic in the nearby areas. Long queues of vehicles were seen in the area.

“I have been stuck in the traffic jam for the last two hours on GT road,” one of the motorists told Dawn. He said that he also tried to use alternate roads but all the routes were offering the same picture.

In Mansehra, the PTI workers staged a demonstration in Shinkiari. PTI youth wing president Bilal Ahmad led the protest demonstration. “Today’s protest has proved that nation stands by Imran Khan,” he said while addressing the charged workers of the party.

He said that the PTI workers would continue their efforts till getting ‘real freedom’. He added they couldn’t be discouraged with the excessive use of police force.

In Kohat, scores of PTI workers staged a demonstration at Kutchery Chowk. They chanted slogans against police. They alleged that police stopped their vehicles heading towards the protest venue. However, traffic was seen moving smoothly on the road.

The protestors chanted slogans against the government.

In Lakki Marwat, the protestors blocked the main Indus Highway at Gandi Chowk.

A protester told journalists that government was unable to compete with Imran Khan that was why it wanted to remove him from the way. He said that PTI workers would block all roads across the country if the government arrested Imran Khan.

In Khyber, the PTI workers staged a sit-in on the main road at the historic Bab-i-Khyber. They also set on fire tyres on the highway due to which traffic was suspended for some time.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2023