Red Zone sealed with containers ahead of JI’s sit-in at D-Chowk. Section 144 imposed across Punjab, Islamabad ahead of protest rallies. Faizabad interchange closed ahead of PTI, JI anticipated protest. People’s Power Cannot Be Stopped by Containers, says Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman
ISLAMABAD: In a series of coordinated raids since late Wednesday night, police conducted extensive operations targeting members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) across various cities in Pakistan after they announced a protest sit-in at Islamabad’s D-Chowk after Friday prayers.
The PTI is holding demonstrations in various cities across the country, including several spots in Lahore, outside the Islamabad Press Club, many locations in Karachi including Clifton and Haideri as well as Quetta’s Metropolitan Corporation Office.
Lahore
In Lahore, police executed raids at more than 60 locations, detaining 110 individuals affiliated with PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami. Notable among the raids was the house of JI Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch. Police detained two people, including Baloch’s employee. Baloch’s son, Ahmad Salman, left to join the protest procession.
Also on Friday, the JI’s procession from PP-169 of Lahore was stopped on the motorway after it left for the Islamabad sit-in. The workers were taken into custody and shifted to a police van, from where they shouted slogans.
The houses of PTI’s Hafiz Zeeshan and Yasir Gilani were raided late at night, according to police sources. Police said they conducted raids on food centres, catering service and sound system in Sandah, Gulshan-e-Ravi and arrested 11 PTI workers.
Several workers of the JI were also detained from various places, the police added.
On Thursday, raids were also conducted on the residence of PTI Lahore President Chaudhry Asghar Gujjar in the Karim Park area of Lahore. On finding him absent, the police locked his outhouse.
Gujjar said the police raided and locked the outhouse without a warrant or any legal justification. “My 30-year-old house has been locked,” he added.
Rest of Punjab
In Hasanabdal, police raided the residences of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, including Tehsil Emir Altaf Hussain and city Emir Noorul Amin. Amin’s son and three workers were arrested during these operations.
Sargodha witnessed a raid at the JI head office, with one worker detained. Police also targeted tehsil offices and the district emir’s residence.
Sahiwal’s raids targeted local Jamaat-e-Islami leaders’ homes, but no arrests were made as the individuals were reportedly not present. Raids were also conducted at the houses of activists across the district.
In Gujranwala, police surrounded the house of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Furqan Aziz Butt with a heavy contingent. Butt was not at home during the raid.
These raids come in the wake of PTI’s call for a protest on July 26. The extensive operations reflect increasing tensions between law enforcement and opposition parties, with authorities taking a firm stance against political activists in the lead-up to the planned demonstrations.
Authorities in Islamabad have sealed Red Zone by placing containers ahead of the Jamaat-i-Islami sit-in at D-Chowk in Islamabad and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest today (Friday), Dunya News reported.
The Jamaat-i-Islami is set to hold a sit-in at D-Chowk in Islamabad while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced countrywide protest against recent surge in electricity bills and the rising inflation in the country.
Key intersections in the Red Zone, including D Chowk, Nadra Chowk, and Sarina Chowk, have been sealed with containers.
The federal and Punjab governments, in the meantime, have imposed Section 144 in Punjab and Islamabad amid PTI and JI plans to hold nationwide protests. According to the notification issued in this regard, Section 144 will be in effect from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, July 28.
In response to the upcoming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) protests, authorities have closed the Faizabad interchange connecting Rawalpindi to Islamabad by placing heavy barriers.
The opposition parties’ protest targets the hike in power tariffs, inflated electricity bills, and the release of PTI leader Imran Khan.
On Sunday, PTI leader Asad Qaiser had said that people across the country would protest today for the release of all political prisoners, including party founder Imran Khan, to reclaim the mandate.
Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, has said that the power of the people cannot be stopped by containers, and we want to remain peaceful.
Reacting to Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-in today in the federal capital, the crackdown across the country, arrests of workers, and blockade of routes by erecting obstacles, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman stated that caravans from all over the country have set off with great enthusiasm for the sit-in today.
He said that despite all the fascism, I tell the workers to manage and reach the sit-in. We are peaceful people and want to remain peaceful; the responsibility lies on the government to maintain peace.
