Hundreds of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers and residents took to the streets in Chitral on Monday to protest the arrest of a party lawmaker in Islamabad.
A rally was held in Chitral city, where protesters marched towards the local press club and party representatives addressed a press conference.
The protesters called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained lawmaker, describing the arrest as an attempt to restrict political representation in the region.
Party representatives said the detained lawmaker was an elected representative of more than 30,000 constituents and expressed concern over the detention of political representatives from Chitral.
They said another elected representative from the area was already in custody in connection with cases related to the May 9 incidents. With another lawmaker now detained, the party expressed concern that the region’s representation in the assemblies had been further affected.
The protesters said arrests would not discourage party workers from continuing their political activities. They also announced plans to participate in the PTI’s planned September 27 protest in Islamabad and demand the release of the party’s incarcerated founder.
The local party leadership warned authorities that the detention could increase political mobilisation in Chitral and urged the immediate release of the detained lawmaker.
The protest comes as PTI workers in different parts of the country prepare for the September 27 demonstration, while authorities have intensified security measures ahead of the planned activity.
Political tensions have increased in several areas amid arrests of party workers and lawmakers, with opposition groups calling for greater space for peaceful political activity and the government maintaining that security measures are necessary to maintain public order.
