PTI and TTAP hold protests in Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Islamabad chapter held a protest in the federal capital on Friday despite Section 144 being in force, while demonstrations linked to PTI and Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan were also staged in Peshawar and Lahore.

PTI and TTAP had called for countrywide protests on Friday against the imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khan, rising inflation and other issues.

Islamabad protest held despite restrictions

The protest in Islamabad took place on Lehtrar Road near Taramri Chowk. It was organised on the instructions of PTI Islamabad President Aamir Mughal and led by the party’s general secretary, Malik Aamir Ali. Among those who joined were PTI Islamabad Senior Vice President Raja Sajjad Dhanyal, Women’s Wing President Maimoona Kamal, Youth Wing President Murad Bukhari, representatives of the Insaf Students Federation and other party leaders and workers.

The demonstrators called for the release of the PTI founder and demanded that he be provided proper medical treatment. They also raised concerns over inflation, the law and order situation and the recent increase in petroleum product prices.

Speaking to Dawn, Aamir Mughal said the party knew that police and other law enforcement agencies had made strict arrangements to stop protests in the capital.

Section 144 was already imposed in the federal capital, but we knew that we had to hold the protest as it was for founding chairman Imran Khan and against inflation, which has been badly affecting the masses.

Mughal added:

During the protest, we demanded that Imran Khan be released, inflation be controlled, petroleum product prices be reduced and the rule of law be ensured in Pakistan.

He also said that if the government did not respond to these demands, PTI would have no option but to begin a large-scale campaign and agitation after Eid.

Peshawar press club demonstration

PTI supporters also gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club. Speaking at a press conference, PTI’s Shandana Gulzar said the movement’s main objective was to secure Imran Khan’s release and halt what she described as the bloodshed of innocent people in the tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

She alleged that civilians in the province were being hit in drone strikes and bomb blasts, and said women and children had also fallen victim to violence.

There is unrest, inflation and insecurity across the country.

Gulzar said, while also alleging that the province was being deprived by the federal government of its due share of gas, electricity and other resources.

She further criticised the federal and Punjab governments, accusing them of economic mismanagement and political victimisation of PTI workers and leaders. She also claimed that economic conditions had worsened to the extent that families were struggling to afford education and household expenses.

Lahore protest outside press club

In Lahore, TTAP’s Punjab chapter organised a protest outside the Lahore Press Club in support of the former prime minister and other political prisoners, calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

PTI workers and activists of the Haqooq-e-Khalq Movement also staged a protest outside the press club in support of the same demands. Political and social activists attending the demonstration included PTI leader Shayan Bashir Nawaz, Mian Akram Usman, and Haqooq-i-Khalq Party leaders Ammar Ali Jan and Haider Butt.

Participants condemned what they described as growing political repression in Punjab. They cited heavy police deployment at the protest site and alleged that political activists’ homes had been raided during the night a day earlier.