Protests erupted in numerous sections of Karachi on Tuesday as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists and supporters flocked to the streets to protest the police move to arrest party Chairman Imran Khan in Lahore’s Zaman Park.
As soon as word of the police operation in Lahore’s Zaman Park circulated, a large crowd took to the streets, blocking Karachi’s Maripur Road and other roads.
Protests were also held in the heavily populated area surrounding Haderi Market, Star Gate, and Teen Talwar.
Similar situations were seen at Shaheen Complex, Rashid Minhas Road, and Sohrab Goth, when a large crowd impeded vehicle traffic.
Protests were also held at the Nazimabad Board Office, 4K Chowrangi, Hub River Road, Bacha Khan Chowk, Banaras Chowk, Kemari, Lyari, and Daud Chowrangi by PTI workers.
It is worth noting that Islamabad police deployed water cannons and tear gas to disperse PTI supporters gathering outside Imran Khan’s Zaman Park mansion in Lahore.
The police squad arrived in Lahore to arrest Imran Khan after a district and sessions court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for his failure to appear at the Toshakhana reference hearing.
In the Toshakhana matter, the court of ADSJ Zafar Iqbal reinstated Imran’s non-bailable arrest warrants. It directed that the PTI head be arrested and brought to court by March 18.
In a statement, the Islamabad police spokesperson said that they have reached Lahore to arrest PTI chief on court orders.
While reacting to the reports of the arrest, PTI leader Hammad Azhar on Sunday afternoon called all party workers to reach Zaman Park in Lahore and remain peaceful.
Imran Khan’s message
In a video message shared on Twitter, the PTI chief urged the nation to stand resolute and fight for ‘Haqeeqi Azadi (real freedom) and rule of law’.
Imran Khan noted that the government believes the nation will ‘not react’ if he gets arrested, urging the party workers and supporters to prove the incumbent rulers ‘wrong’.
“You [the nation] have to prove that we are a living nation”, the former premier said, asking the nation to continue its struggle for real freedom and come out of their houses. He further said that he will continue to fight for the supremacy of Rule of Law.
