Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has directed its office-bearers to accelerate preparations for an upcoming protest in Islamabad while urging workers and activists to avoid arrest.
The party claimed that police had arrested 119 prominent workers and activists in six districts of the Rawalpindi division over the past two days. It said the total number of PTI workers arrested in northern Punjab had reached 225.
The PTI has formed teams to mobilise workers and activists and instructed them to carry out the campaign while avoiding arrest.
The party has also constituted a legal team to pursue cases involving arrested workers. Its information wing has prepared a list of those detained, while three lawyers — PTI North Punjab Vice President Husnain Sumbal, Rawalpindi District Secretary General Aqil Khan and Punjab Bar Council member Malik Faisal — are handling the cases.
According to the party, 31 people were arrested in Rawalpindi district, 23 in Attock, 29 in Jhelum, one in Murree, 10 in Talagang, 26 in Chakwal, 40 in Mianwali, seven in Bhakkar, 24 in Sargodha and 34 in Khushab.
A meeting of PTI Rawalpindi chapter office-bearers with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was held at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad on Sunday. The meeting decided that PTI workers and activists from Rawalpindi district would join the rally travelling from KP to Islamabad.
The issue of workers’ arrests was also discussed during the meeting. Party office-bearers were directed to continue preparations at the local level while avoiding public gatherings in order to participate in the protest rally scheduled for Sept 27.
The party also used social media to convey to workers that their participation was essential for its campaign seeking the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.
PTI Rawalpindi District President Chaudhry Ameer Afzal Khan said the party had prepared a plan to ensure a large turnout from the district at the Islamabad protest.
He said five-member committees had been formed at the tehsil level to mobilise workers and activists.
“We assigned duties to prominent workers in three layers. If the first batch is arrested, the second will lead the workers, and in case of their arrest, the third batch will take charge,” he said.
Mr Khan said preparations had been completed and public mobilisation had begun in all wards of the district.
Regarding the arrested workers, he said a 10-member committee had been formed to visit jails and meet detainees.
“We will not leave our workers unattended and will pursue their cases at every cost,” he said.
