Muzaffrabad: The police used tear gas and batons to disperse activists and leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf (PTI) on Friday when they protested against the alleged appearance in last year’s general elections in Pakistan, allegedly in violation of section 144 of the Criminal Procedure of the Criminal Code of the Criminal Code.
The confrontation initially exploded outside the press club before intensifying near Domel, where PTI activists faced the law personnel.
Several PTI workers, including the regional vice president of the party, Zeeshan Haider, Kazmi, Councilor Hamid Jamil, Munna Shah and Malik Ansar, were arrested. Although the officials did not confirm the number of arrests, the sources estimated that at least 20 activists were arrested, most of which were released later at night.
The video images showed the police chasing and amazing protesters near the Quaid-E-Azam bridge in Domel, where PTI’s regional president and former AJK prime minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi led the demonstration. While the protesters tried to march towards the press club, the police shot tear gas shells and turned to Baton charges to push them back.
In the midst of chaos, a Suzuki truck was equipped with a sound system for protest, it caught fire in Domel. The cause of the fire remained without being clear.
“This is fascism … This is oppression,” said Mr. Niazi visibly enraged. “We will not allow this to continue. We will call a closure and a wheel jam stroke in response. “
Later, the authorities escorted Mr. Niazi to the residence of the president of the district of PTI, Azhar Gillani, in Rawani, where he was placed under house arrest.
Previously, another group of PTI activists had gathered separately outside the press club, but its demonstration was also divided by the police, which allegedly resulted in additional arrests.
“If you think that using brute force against Imran Khan’s loyal ones will dissuade them from responding to their calls, they are seriously wrong,” said PTI councilor, Zulfiqar Baig, from the Muzampharabad neighborhood.
The opposition leader Khawaja Farooq Ahmed and former Minister Hanif Awan were also withdrawn from outside the press club and placed under house arrest in their respective residences.
Posted in Dawn, February 9, 2025
