Bani Gala under siege ‘military blockade’ after crackdown on PTI

Siege was put by law enforcers to the Bani Gala home of Imran Khan late Thursday night hours after a crackdown was launched against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters. The opposition party responded by declaring nationwide demonstrations against what it called ‘terrorism’ of the government.

Police detained dozens of PTI workers — including girls — for violating Section 144 which the administration had demanded each day. Television footage showed police scuffling with Imran’s supporters before whisking them away and bundling them.

Not just that, Lal Haveli, the home of Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, was also apparently sealed to discontinue the most outspoken critic of the authorities from staging a rally on Friday where Imran is, in addition, scheduled to appear.

“The entire area is under surveillance of law enforcement agencies, while deployment of law enforcers is building up before the dwelling of Chairman Imran Khan,” said Qureshi, who’s present in Bani Gala together with top leaders of PTI. “Nobody is let in or out.”

Government officials, nevertheless, said police and Frontier Constabulary personnel have been deployed at Bani Gala for Imran’s security. The law enforcers will supply them security –, If the PTI leaders honor the law but if they break the law, they will be detained,” PMLN leader Talal Chaudhry was quoted as saying by a local TV channel.

Both Imran and Sheikh Rasheed are considering the chance of holding their scheduled demonstration on Murree Road.

The crackdown first started in the federal capital, where the police and paramilitary Frontier Constabulary detained heaps of the PTI workers, including women, gathered at a local hotel for a youth convention.

The youth convention was assumed to be held inside Taj Marquee at Sector E-11. However, the town administration sealed the premises earlier in the day, forcing the participants to gather outside of it.

Afterwards, the police accompanied by FC staff stormed detained workers in the presence of Asad Umar and PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and the gathering.

Earlier in the day, the government neighbouring Rawalpindi for two months and imposed Section 144 in the federal capital. Based on the interior ministry, the actions against the youth convention – which it claimed wasn’t a crack down –was carried out to implement Section 144. It promised the PTI hadn’t obtained prior permission in the administration to hold the assembly.

“We will watch countrywide protest today (Friday) against government’s shameless and brutal torture and arrest of party activists notably women,” Imran Khan declared while addressing a hurriedly called press conference at his residence in Bani Gala.

Imran said the unlawful arrests and torture had further charged the PTI workers, adding the November 2 demonstration in the capital would be held as per schedule, come what may.

“Today’s brutal action has stamped the fact that Sharif brothers would go to any extent to save their corrupt regime,” he said. “Now it has become mandatory for every Pakistani to come out and join me in saving the country’s future.”

Meanwhile, the Punjab and federal police on Thursday evening started arresting the mid-tier leaders of the party in different cities of Islamabad and Punjab.

Rawalpindi police detained two brothers of the PTI MPA Ijaz Khan Jazi during a raid at his house. Jazi escaped arrest as he was absent in his house. According to sources, some 150 activists of the PTI and the AML were arrested from Rawalpindi.

In Islamabad, senior PTI leader Nawabzada Salahuddin, who was later changed to Kohsar police station was also picked up by the authorities. The PTI afterwards asserted that police had detained some 236 men and 42 women. These individuals were under detention at two different police stations until the filing of the report.

Talking to The Express Tribune PTI leader Faisal Chaudhry alleged that his house was raided by police in Sector F-7. However, he evaded arrest. Likewise, a PTI office in Jehlum was also raided.

PTI maintained that the authorities raided office of party leader Mehmoodul Rasheed and the house of Ijaz Chaudhry in Lahore. Later, heaps of PTI workers and supporters gathered outside Lahore Press Club and held a protest against the raid. They blocked road for every sort of traffic by burning tyres and raised slogans against the PML-N government.

“It’s an order that too passed without hearing PTI’s point of view although not a judgment,” Bokhari said, adding the party’s legal team was contemplating if the IHC passed the order without the lawful authority.” Does the court have any authority to pass that order?” Bokhari questioned. Bokhari said, the order falls under prejudice that was palpable and there is set precedents in this respect.

As a contingency plan in the aftermath of PTI’s dangers and demonstrations to lock down Islamabad, the United Nations’ organisations that are affiliated have asked their employees to have at least one week’s ration at their dwellings.

“While it is too early to mention the mitigating measures, as a preparatory measure, in the event of such lockdowns, it is in the interest of all UN personnel to ensure at least a week’s provision of food, water, etc, available at our residences,” says an internal memo circulated in all allied departments of UN.