ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The PTI leadership has strongly condemned the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan, announced a countrywide strike on Wednesday (today) and appealed to the nation to come out onto the streets against the ‘rising fascism’ telling supporters that a ‘make or break moment’ has approached.

However, the senior leadership also announced that the schedule of public meetings across the country, approved by Mr Khan days before his arrest, would remain unchanged.

Hours after the arrest, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi convened a meeting of the ‘emergency committee’ comprising Senators Saifullah Khan, Azam Swati and Ejaz Chaudhry, PTI senior leaders Murad Saeed, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur and Hassan Niazi to review the situation from every aspect and announce a comprehensive plan of action.

Also, PTI Central Secretary General Asad Umar said Mr Qureshi-led seven-member committee, which was formed by Mr Khan, would announce party’s plan of action after Pakistan’s biggest political leader was arrested. “The whole world is being shown there is no law left in the country,” he remarked. The vice chairman, meanwhile, urged people to come out in support of Mr Khan who was “abducted” from the court premises in a “false and fabricated” case.

‘Pre-planned attack’

At Karachi airport before catching a flight to Islamabad, Mr Qureshi told reporters that the arrest was connected with the London visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alleging that it was “a pre-planned attack” by the government on the ex-premier and warned of strong protest against the “illegal move”.

Mr Qureshi rejected the reports of violence amid street protests by the PTI and said public wrath was invited by the government. “The people are protesting on their own,” he said in response to a question. “The people of Pakistan across the country took to the street to protest the arrest of Imran Khan. They are peaceful and only want their beloved leader’s safety.”

And it didn’t happen suddenly, he said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his London stay as he knew this [arrest plan of Imran Khan] very well. “The arrest of Imran Khan is somehow connected with London [visit of Shehbaz Sharif],” the vice chairman said, adding that even well before his appearance before the court Mr Khan in a video statement announced “he’s ready for arrest”.

‘Rangers attacked IHC, abducted Imran’

PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said that former prime minister was “abducted” from court premises where “scores of lawyers and general people were tortured”. He urged the people to come out of their homes, as “IHC had been attacked”.

Also, PTI senior vice president Shireen Mazari said the court was attacked by the Rangers personnel as if they were invading an occupied land, while lawyers and IHC staff had been thrashed.

‘Life in danger’

PTI Central Secretary Information Farrukh Habib said Mr Khan sacrificed everything for ‘true freedom’ of the people and it was nation’s turn to take to the streets for his early release.

He also said it was a real test for IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, because Mr Khan came to appear in his court when he was ‘abducted’ from court premises. He feared Mr Khan’s life was in danger.

Mr Habib said the Abdul Qadir University was an educational institution and there was nothing in the name of Imran Khan or Bushra Bibi.

PTI senior leader Murad Saeed asked the masses to bring the whole country’s machinery to a grinding halt, as it was decisive moment when the Muslim ummah’s leader was ‘detained and tortured’.

Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, an ally of the PTI, also announced all-out support to the anti-government protests against Mr Khan’s arrest.

Protest outside Nawaz’s flat

In London, the party’s supporters gathered outside Avenfield House, the Park Lane residence of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.

On Tuesday evening, scores of PTI’s UK supporters had poured into Dunraven Street, the street leading to the gated apartment block where Mr Sharif and members of his family reside, and shouted anti-Nawaz slogans.

Atika Rehman in London also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2023