Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers took to the streets in various cities of Pakistan following the arrest of the party’s leader, Imran Khan. The arrest took place in the Al-Qadir Trust case, and PTI leadership has called for nationwide protests against the incident. Protests turned violent in several cities, with police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.Â
Karachi
PTI supporters in Karachi held a protest that led to the blocking of the city’s main thoroughfare, Shahrae Faisal. The demonstration caused massive traffic congestion, with protesters pelting stones at police vehicles and setting a police van on fire. In response, police resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the protests. The Karachi chapter of PTI also gathered around Insaf House on Sharea Faisal to record their protest and blocked traffic. Authorities advised the public to use alternate routes to reach their destinations.Â
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Lahore
PTI supporters gathered near the central Liberty Chowk area, and lawyers protested at the GPO Chawk against the arrest having taken place on court premises. Protesters also blocked roads in the city, causing difficulty for citizens. Traffic police reported road blockages at Canal-Mall Bridge towards Mughalpura, Canal-Prison Bridge towards Mughalpura, Liberty R/O Siddique Trade Centre, GPO Chowk, Akbar Chowk, Dharmapura-Canal Bridge to Canal-Mall Bridge, and Dharmapura Canal Bridge to Canal Mall Bridge near Zaman Park.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi
The situation in Islamabad remained tense as the police enforced Section 144, which prohibits the assembly of more than four people in a public place. The move was taken to ensure public safety and maintain law and order. The police personnel were deployed in various parts of the city to ensure the implementation of Section 144.
The traffic police also issued an alert to the citizens, informing them of possible traffic blockages between the Koral and Khanna Stops of the Islamabad Expressway. The police advised the citizens to use alternate routes to avoid inconvenience.
In Rawalpindi, protesters blocked several roads, causing difficulties for the citizens. The police resorted to tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowds and maintain law and order. The police also warned of strict action against anyone found violating the law. Citizens were advised to remain vigilant and cooperate with the authorities to ensure public safety.
Peshawar and MultanÂ
Protests were also reported in the cities of Peshawar and Multan, where PTI supporters and anti-government protesters blocked roads, leading to massive traffic congestion and inconvenience for citizens. In Peshawar, the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds, while in Multan, they resorted to similar measures to maintain law and order. These protests have caused widespread disruption in several major cities across Pakistan, with commuters and citizens bearing the brunt of the situation. The authorities have urged people to remain calm and use alternate routes to reach their destinations.
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The arrest of Imran Khan has caused widespread protests across Pakistan. The PTI leadership has called for nationwide protests against the incident, and supporters have taken to the streets in various cities. The protests have turned violent, with police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. The situation remains tense, and the authorities are working to ensure public safety and security.