Police in Pakistan apprehended over 240 activists from the opposition party on Tuesday during protests demanding the release of jailed leader Imran Khan, marking the second anniversary of his imprisonment. According to security officials, 122 of those arrested were taken into custody in Lahore for obstructing traffic and endangering public order. Additional arrests occurred during late-night raids throughout Punjab province.
Supporters of Khan, who leads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, rallied in large numbers, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The protests included chanting, “Free Imran Khan!” outside courthouses in Lahore, while law enforcement fired teargas in cities like Karachi and Muzaffarabad to disperse crowds. PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari reported that more than 200 activists were detained in Lahore alone. In Quetta, female supporters vocally opposed the government, and approximately 2,000 activists in Karachi demonstrated using various vehicles adorned with party flags.
While Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi experienced a heightened police presence, maintaining relative calm, Uzma Bukhari, a spokesperson for the Punjab provincial government, stated that PTI protests could not disrupt public order, a claim the PTI spokesperson contested.
The backdrop of these protests reflects ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan, where similar instances of dissent have unfolded in various regions. The detainment of activists often ignites public debates regarding the government’s handling of opposition and individual rights. As civil society continues to voice its concerns, there’s hope that these movements will lead to broader discussions about political freedoms and democratic governance in Pakistan. If effectively channeled, the calls for justice and accountability could facilitate much-needed change within the political landscape.
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