LAHORE – Punjab government has mounted containers in several parts of thecity, apparently to stop leaders and workers of the PakistanTehreek-i-Insaf from joining the party’s much-touted power show in theprovincial capital.
Besides closing several arteries in country’s second-largest city Lahore,the police raided the houses of several PTI leaders and workers anddetained scores of activists in the province ahead of the Minar-e-Pakistanrally.
Routes from Data Darbar to Minar-e-Pakistan were closed by placingcontainers while barriers were mounted near Shah Alam Market Chowk, LahoreRailway Station, Rang Mahal, and Taxali Gate. Shahdara Chowk and RaviBridge were also closed by placing containers.
As the entry and exit points of the provincial capital were sealed, CityTraffic Police Lahore has shared updates on closed routes, advisingresidents to use alternative routes.
Police parties conducted raids at the residence of Usman Dar in Sialkot buthe escaped. Former-assistant advocate general Punjab Mian Shakeel alsomanaged to dodge police amid an ongoing crackdown.
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A similar crackdown against leaders and workers of the former ruling partyalso continued in Lahore as the residences of Mian Abid Ali, and WaqarZulfiqar Bhatti were raided in late-night action.
Amid the crackdown, the defiant leader and PTI Chairman Imran Khanannounced holding a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan tonight. In a social mediapost, the former premier said that the authorities would try to put allsorts of hurdles to prevent the masses from attending the PTI gathering butcalled on people to attend it despite all obstacles.
“Tonight will be our 6th jalsa at Minar i Pakistan & my heart tells me itwill break all records. I am inviting everyone in Lahore to attend afterTarawih prayers. I will give my vision of Haqeeqi Azadi & how we will pullPak out of the mess cabal of crooks have put our country in…They will putall sorts of hurdles to prevent people from attending, but I want to remindour ppl that it is their fundamental right to attend a political gathering.Everyone must assert their right as people of a free nation that won itsindependence & come to Minar i Pakistan,” Imran Khan wrote.
