Sialkot police authorities launched a crackdown at the venue of PTI’s latest rally in the wee hours of Saturday. They also arrested 40 PTI workers, including Usman Dar.
According to details, a heavy contingent of police reached the venue and cordoned off the ground in Sialkot today to stop preparations for the PTI rally.
Police began to overthrow the ground with heavy machinery at the PTI gathering. However, PTI workers resisted when the goods were removed. On this occasion, PTI leader Usman Dar along with his workers lay down in front of the machinery. He said that this machinery would pass over us.
Read more: Netizens demand high security for Imran Khan
As a result, a clash broke out. The police began using force. They fired tear gas to disperse the workers and arrested Usman Dar. Due to the police actions in Sialkot, netizens reacted heavily and slammed the authorities.
Dis is absolutely unconstitutional what is hapening in #Sialkot. THIS IS CHAOS.
PDM held marches & Jalsaas when PTI was in power. Not even once they were stopped.
This is the end of an era and begining of a new GOOD MORNING.#SialkotFightsBack #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/b2ykTCYUfq— Pak Social Media Association (@Pak_SMA) May 14, 2022
Meanwhile, Usman Dar has said that he stands with the PTI chairman and that his love for Imran Khan will not be affected even if he is sent to jail. He reiterated that the former premier will attend the rally no matter what.
“We will bear imprisonment but remain loyal to our leader Imran Khan. And listen closely, we will come out of the jails and again hold a rally in Sialkot. Our leader will again come to Sialkot. And under the leadership of Imran Khan, we will bury this imported government, these puppets of America forever,” Usman Dar said.
"We will fight against this imported Khakumat till last blood in my body" @UdarOfficial #SialkotFightsBack pic.twitter.com/XsZHVDwqmw
— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 14, 2022
Why did police raid the ground?
While PTI supporters condemned the police actions, Sialkot’s district authorities claimed that PTI did not have permission to hold the rally on the ground.
According to numerous media reports, the district administration of Sialkot had rejected PTI’s request for holding a rally at the CTI ground after the Christian community raised objections over the PTI’s scheduled meeting at their property.
“We have stopped the PTI from holding a public meeting at the CTI ground on the request of the Christian community,” said Deputy Commissioner Imran Qureshi.
Read more: Christian soldier embraces martyrdom defending Pakistan
Taking action on the request of the minority community, the police have got the CTI ground vacated. Christian community told the police that they perform their religious rites on the ground. The DPO, however, said: “We are ready to give PTI an alternate place for public gathering.”