LAHORE: One Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) worker was killed in the firing of “unidentified people” while protesting in Gujranwala during a rally against the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan late on Tuesday.

The police continued their crackdown on PTI workers and leaders across Punjab, registered cases, and made arrests on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In Multan, cases under terrorism charges were registered against 36 nominated and 250 unidentified PTI activists for vandalism during a protest, and 50 PTI activists, including former MPA Malik Wasif Raan, were arrested.

PTI workers held protests at Bahawalpur Bypass and Empress Chowk in the Cantonment area.

GUJRANWALA: One worker was killed, and several others were injured due to firing by “unidentified people” late on Tuesday, the police said, adding that during a protest rally in Rahwali, unknown people started firing, resulting in the death of Rashid Maqbool from Khajurwali and injuries to several other workers.

Police are manning GT Road, and the army has installed barbed wire on the road to Cantonment areas. Cases have been registered against 400 people, including 22 people, for protesting and blocking GT Road. The police said PTI workers used firearms for vandalism and sloganeering against sensitive institutions.

KASUR: Cases were lodged against more than 600 activists, including 150 nominated.

Agitators kept protesting on Wednesday.

Police arrested ten workers after the raids that started on Tuesday night and were in progress on Wednesday.

BAHAWALPUR: The police, during a pre-dawn raid on PTI activists, arrested 20 activists at Karachi bypass.

Dawn learned that PTI activists had staged a demonstration and blocked national highways to protest against the arrest of Mr Khan at Sutlej Bridge.

PTI lawyers said the police have issued the detention orders of the PTI activists, but have so far declined to give copies of the detention orders, which would be challenged in the Lahore High Court’s Bahawalpur Bench.

SAHIWAL: A protest rally, attended by hundreds of workers at Sahiwal Bypass, witnessed several key leaders absent. Several PTI ticket holders were also present.

The PTI said police arrested 30 workers under 16 MPO late on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In Pakpattan, cases were registered against 24 nominated and 25 unidentified PTI leaders and workers, including five women, under several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and 16 MPO-1960.

TOBA TEK SINGH: Scores of PTI activists staged a protest demonstration for the second consecutive day on Wednesday at Faisalabad’s Kachehry Bazaar. The police threw heavy tear gas shells at PTI workers at Faisalabad District Council Chowk and arrested some of them. The police also dismantled the protest camp, after which the protesters dispersed. Some shells also fell into the press club building.

Former PTI provincial minister Khial Ahmad Kastro was arrested, while strict security arrangements were made around the house of Federal Home Minister Rana Sanaullah in Samanabad. In Khanewal, on Lahore Morr, dozens of PTI activists staged a protest and blocked traffic on Lahore-Multan Road. Police arrested more than a dozen workers from the demonstration, after which the remaining others dispersed.

OKARA: Dozens of activists from the Insaf Lawyers Forum took part in a protest rally to condemn the government for the unjust arrest of the former prime minister and PTI chief. Participants chanted slogans demanding the release of the “most popular leader of the country.”

MUZAFFARGARH: The police registered cases against 40 people, including former MNA Jamshed Dasti, former minister Nawabzada Mansoor and several PTI ticket holders who protested and blocked the Shershah bridge on the Chenab River, Head Taunsa bridge on the Indus, and the Head Mohammadwala bridge on the Chenab to protest the arrest of Mr Khan. Still, no one has been arrested so far. A police official said that arrests would be made on Wednesday night. Sources said that Pakistan Army vehicles were patrolling Parco and other government offices in the district.

GUJRAT: Dozens of PTI workers were arrested for resorting to violent protests, and blocking of main roads.

Up to 80 people were booked by the A-division police for blocking GTS Chowk. Cases against PTI workers were registered in Lalamusa, Gulliana, Sadar Gujrat, Kakrali, Sara-i-Alamgir and other police stations.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2023