PTI to provide free legal aid to arrested workers

PTI workers and leaders faced a heavy crackdown from police authorities after Chairman Imran Khan was arrested at Islamabad High Court (IHC). In a bid to help its arrested workers, PTI has formed a legal team.

According to the details, the legal team will provide legal assistance to PTI workers in police custody, that too free of cost. A list was shared on social media giving the details of the lawyers that will provide legal assistance to PTI workers arrested in Sialkot.

Read more: Major victory for PTI as SC declares Imran Khan’s arrest ‘illegal’

Pertinent to mention that PTI also has a separate platform for lawyers named the Insaf Lawyers Forum dedicated to providing legal aid, especially against harassment or illegal abductions by police authorities.

How Imran Khan’s arrest triggered chaos in Pakistan

Tuesday, Imran Khan was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. The PTI Chief was taken into custody by Rangers personnel, who were acting on the NAB’s warrant from the premises of Islamabad High Court where the former premier had gone to seek bail in multiple cases registered against him.

Following Imran Khan’s arrest, chaos erupted in Pakistan as the public heavily protested the arrest, with reports of violence and clashes between police and the protestors. The situation, especially in Lahore, went out of hand when protestors set four police vehicles on fire near the corp commander house.

Read more: Constitutional rights violated as Imran Khan’s legal team denied meeting

Punjab police spokesperson said that more than 25 vehicles of the police and government agencies were destroyed and burnt. Protesters had attacked more than 14 government buildings, looting and causing serious damage to government property, he shared. They also “seriously injured” more than 130 police officers and law enforcement personnel during the violent operations.

The Islamabad police said it has detained 298 people for arson and acts of violence so far. Sixteen cases have been registered for arson and damage to private and government property.

Amid this backdrop, PTI workers were arrested. Furthermore, several top-tier PTI leaders were also arrested under section three of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).