PESHAWAR: Despite police crackdown on its workers, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf took out election rallies in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday on the call of party’s founding chairman Imran Khan.

Police also baton charged PTI workers at Kabooter Chowk on the Ring Road, where they had gathered from different parts of Peshawar to take out a rally.

Only in Peshawar, police arrested at least 30 PTI workers in the jurisdiction of several police stations.

“Scores of our party workers have been detained by police in the jurisdiction of several police stations,” PTI Peshawar district president Sher Ali Arbab told Dawn. He said despite police crackdown, election rallies were held in numerous areas of the provincial capital.

The rallies, comprising motorists and motorcyclists, marched on different roads with the participants holding PTI flags and portraits of their poll candidates. They also chanted slogans in favour of their detained leader.

30 party activists arrested in Peshawar

PTI leader Irfan Khatana told Dawn that he and 17 other PTI workers were in the lockup of Faqirabad police station. He said the district administration had imposed Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code banning only display of arms, and not the political rallies.

“The election date is just 10 days away, but the state didn’t allow the PTI to stage rallies in connection with the election campaign,” he said, adding other political parties were not facing any hurdle in their campaigns.

“Under which law police baton charged our workers and didn’t allow them to take out rallies,” he asked.

Mr Khatana said PTI would take the revenge of state’s ‘atrocities’ through ballot on the polling day.

The police launched crackdown on PTI workers across the capital city, arresting and booking dozens of workers for violating Section 144.

PTI workers were arrested under sections 148, 149 and 279 of Pakistan Penal Code, the police said. “Faqeerabad police arrested 17 PTI workers for blocking roads and rioting, but released them later on submitting personal bonds,” city police’s spokesperson Alam Khan told Dawn.

When asked about a video which went viral on social media showing PTI workers inside a lockup, he said those weren’t only the PTI workers but others, arrested for other crimes.

According to Khazana police, seven PTI activities were arrested and booked under section 188 of PPC for violating Section 144. Pahari Pura police also stated that six persons were arrested, but they were yet to be booked till filing of this report.

In Lower Dir, the Munda police briefly detained PTI poll nominee for NA-6 Ali Shah Mishwani and PK-17 Mohammad Din Jan when a car and motorcycle rally reached Senzo area of Jandol on Sunday. Hundreds of PTI workers and supporters of Ali Mishwani and Mohammad Jan gathered at Kambat Samarbagh, and then took out a rally on the Samarbagh-Munda Road.

However, the police stopped the caravan near the Munda police station and detained both the election candidates for some time. They were released later.

Meanwhile, PTI workers in groups of 20 to 40 took out rallies in Timergara, Talash, Chakdara, Kumbar, Khall and Mayar.

In Khyber, PTI workers organised election rallies in Bara and Jamrud.

The Bara rally, headed by party candidate for NA-27 Iqbal Afridi, started from Nala Chowk in Malakdinkhel and culminated in Shalobar locality. The rally remained peaceful with party workers chanting slogans in support of their party head and candidates.

The Jamrud rally was well-attended by enthusiastic party workers, who walked from bypass road up to the historic Bab-i-Khyber. The participants had earlier announced to go to Landi Kotal in a vehicular procession, but they were denied permission by the district administration.

PTI workers, however, did not put up any resistance and dispersed peacefully after holding a public gathering at Bab-i-Khyber.

In Bajaur, PTI nominees and workers held power shows on Sunday.

The gatherings were arranged on the call of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, according to a statement.

The major gatherings were held in Raghagan, Barang and Mamond led by PTI former provincial vice-president and party nominee for PK-20, Anwarzeb Khan, PTI local chapter president and candidate for NA-8 Gul Zafar Khan and Dr Hamidur Rahman, the party nominee for PK-19.

In Kohat, the planned PTI convention at zero point on the Indus Highway was not allowed as a large number of policemen resorted to baton charge the workers to disperse them.

The convention was to be addressed by party candidate for NA-32 Shehryar Afridi, PK-91 Daud Afridi, PK-92 Shafi Jan and district president Aftab Alam.

In DI Khan, PTI vice-president Sher Afzal Marwat alleged the administration, judiciary and other departments are working against PTI, which ‘was fighting for real freedom of people’.

Addressing a huge public meeting in Shaheed Haq Nawaz Gandapur Park, Mr Marwat insisted their leader Imran Khan was in jail for the sake of people.

“People should vote for PTI-backed candidates on Feb 8 for real freedom and strengthening of democracy in Pakistan,” he added. He alleged PTI activists and former lawmakers were being forced to switch loyalties.

Meanwhile, addressing a public meeting through audio link, PTI provincial president and candidate for both NA and PA seats in Dera, Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said young people and educated class should rise up and play a key role in the success of PTI in Feb 8 elections.

In Mansehra, charged PTI activists took out rallies in Mansehra, Torghar and Kohistan districts demanding immediate release of Imran Khan from prison.

“Mr Khan is the country’s saviour. He never indulged in riots, and should be released without delay,” Kamal Saleem Swati, a local PTI leader, told a rally.

In a rare show of solidarity with their jailed leader, the PTI workers made their way to Abbottabad Road from the Insaf Secretariat, breaking a police cordon.

The Mansehra administration had imposed Section 144, banning rallies and gatherings.

Mr Swati said the party’s leaders and workers were facing the wrath of the administration, but would never bow down.

Big vehicular rallies were also taken out in Shinkiari, Baffa, Jabori and Oghi areas of Mansehra.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2024

To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here for candidates.