PESHAWAR: Amid massive police deployment, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa largely remained “silent” over the arrest of their leader and former prime minister, Imran Khan, following his conviction in a corruption case.

A few street protests by PTI workers were reported in the province.

Soon after the PTI chairman was held by the police in Lahore after being sentenced by a court over the unauthorised sale of Toshakhana gifts, authorities deployed large contingents of police equipped with anti-riot gear along with prison vans on main streets in various districts to thwart possible demonstrations.

The gathering of five and more people was banned in several districts by the imposition of Section 144 of the CrPC.

The Peshawar police arrested 16 PTI workers for violating that ban.

Following the arrest of Imran on May 9, the PTI workers staged violent demonstrations across the province leading to a crackdown on them by the police and other law-enforcement agencies.

Police deployed in large numbers amid ban on public gatherings

However, this time around, the fear of police action stopped PTI workers from repeating the mayhem.

The local PTI leaders in the province have either joined the PTI-Parliamentarians launched by former chief minister Pervez Khattak or gone underground to prevent arrest over the May 9 violence.

In Peshawar, the Insaf Lawyers Forum held an emergency meeting at the high court with Qazi Mohammad Anwar in the chair.

The participants later marched on the KP Assembly Chowk and staged a demonstration, which was attended by Shah Faisal Utmankhel, Moazzam Butt, Saadullah Marwat, Arbab Fakhre Alam, Ali Zaman, Alam Khan and others.

The speakers said the arrest of Mr Imran was illegal and an act of political victimisation.

Meanwhile, PTI provincial president Sardar Ali AMin Khan Gandapur denounced the sentence and arrest of his leader and said all that was pre-planned.

He told reporters here that the court’s decision in the Toshakhana case was condemnable. He said the PTI had already informed the nation about the government’s plans to arrest him as part of a “well-thought-out conspiracy.”

“The PDM government has gradually acted on its conspiracy, which is condemnable and the nation rejects it,” he said.

Mr Gandapur said the Constitution had given the people the right to stage peaceful protests and they would claim that and justice from superior courts.

He said the PTI would actively participate in general elections and defeat the PDM and allies to regain power.

In Swat, PTI workers didn’t take to the streets against Imran’s arrest despite his call for agitation.

PTI worker Shujat Ali of Bedara area was held in Matta tehsil for trying to protest Imran’s arrest.

Key PTI leaders from Malakand division, including president Fazal Hakeem Khan Yousafzai and city mayor Shahid Ali Khan, who were recently released from the jail, refrained from commenting on the development.

PTI Swat president and former MNA Salimur Rehman has been in hiding since May 9.

In an audio message, he urged party workers to gather at the headquarters of the seven tehsils for a protest. However, no one showed up there.

Meanwhile, scores of PTI activists staged street protests in parts of Bajaur tribal district, including Khar, Inayat Kally and Pashat bazaars.

The main rally held in Inayat Kally region was led by former MNA Gul Dad Khan, Nawagai tehsil council chairman Dr Khalilur Rehman and PTI district senior vice-president Sikandar Zeb Khan.

Soon after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, a large police contingent reached the Karnal Sher Khan Chowk in Swabi to prevent possible protest by PTI workers.

No rally was staged in the district. The arrest of dozens of PTI activists was reported in Charsadda and Shabqadar areas for taking to the streets.

Later, the deputy commissioner banned public gatherings, rallies and processions across the district until August 9,

The PTI workers held street protests against their leader’s arrest in Lower Dir, Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts. They declared the court’s decision in Toshakhana case “partial” and shouted slogans against the PDM government.

In Haripur district, the PTI leadership, including former MNAs, MPAs and office-bearers, went into hiding following the arrest of Mr Imran.

No party worker took to the streets as the deputy commissioner banned the assembly of five or more people in the district for 60 days.

The Haripur police arrested PTI activists in the district for taking to the streets.

Party and police sources said PTI leaders Akbar Ayub Khan and his brother, Yousuf Ayub, had been out of the country since the May 7 violent protests, while the whereabouts of former PTI MNA Omar Ayub Khan was not known.

The police arrested Hasrat Nawaz Khan, the father of PTI district general secretary Allah Yar Khan during a raid at their house. Several party workers were also taken into custody. In a social media message, Yousuf Ayub Khan asked party workers to go into hiding to evade arrest.

Heavy police deployment on the streets was reported in Shangla district to prevent rallies by PTI workers, according to officials.

Sub-divisional police officer of Puran tehsil Sher Hassan conducted a raid on a PTI rally in Aloch Bazaar and arrested tehsil council chairman Abdul Maula, his family members and PTI leaders.

Published in Dawn, Aug 6th, 2023