- Raja Ghazanfar and Shoaib Shaheen among other important leaders targeted in police raids ahead of Nov 24 protest
ISLAMABAD: Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leaders and activists were arrested by police ahead of the party’s protest planed for Islamabad on November 24.
CCTV footage showing police raids at various homes of PTI members in Rawalpindi and Islamabad has surfaced.
Several party leaders and workers were reportedly detained during the raids, which took place late at night.
Among those arrested was Raja Ghazanfar, Secretary General of NA-48, while raids also targeted the residence of prominent PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen.
Authorities appear to be intensifying efforts to prevent any disruptions ahead of the protest, with sources indicating that dozens of PTI members have been taken into custody.
The police action and its timing suggest the authorities are preparing to quell potential unrest, with the opposition gearing up for what they say will be a large-scale demonstration in the capital.
Earlier this week, Imran Khan called for a march on Islamabad on 24 November.
Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, stated that he has issued a final call, addressing every supporter to take to the streets across Pakistan.
According to Aleema Khan, Imran Khan said, “On February 8, you brought about a revolution, and you took to the streets to exercise your constitutional right. You took power away from the elite and became powerful. But on February 9, the entire mandate was stolen.”
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Imran’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, said the PTI founder has set up a committee to organise the Islamabad march, although he declined to reveal the members’ names, stating, “I won’t disclose the names, as they could be arrested” a local media outlet reported.
He added that the protests will continue until their demands are met.
Faisal Chaudhry said Khan has called this the “final protest call,” with key demands, including the reversal of the 26th amendment, the restoration of PTI’s mandate, and the release of individuals detained without trial.
Faisal Chaudhry stated that the founder of PTI, Imran Khan, has said that the entire PTI leadership will participate in the protest, and the whole party knows what needs to be done. He added that the authority to end the protest will lie with a committee.
Imran’s lawyer also mentioned that, as per the PTI founder’s instructions, Ali Amin Gandapur will lead a caravan from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
