The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has reaffirmed its plan to hold a protest on September 27 despite the arrest of several lawmakers, party workers and supporters across the country.
The party said its parliamentary committee had decided to exercise its constitutional right to peaceful protest and would proceed with the planned demonstration. Details of the protest are expected to be announced on September 25.
The development comes as authorities have intensified security measures ahead of the planned march towards Islamabad, including the detention of several PTI workers and political figures.
The PTI has alleged that the arrests of party members and incidents involving provincial officials are intended to discourage its supporters from participating in the protest. The party maintains that such measures will not weaken its political campaign.
The party said it had avoided major protests over the past two years and had instead attempted to pursue its political and legal issues through parliament and the courts.
The PTI also raised concerns over the implementation of court orders relating to meetings with its incarcerated founder and his medical treatment. It maintained that holding peaceful demonstrations is a constitutional right.
Party representatives urged the authorities to reconsider their approach and called for political dialogue to resolve ongoing disputes. They said the party was not seeking confrontation or violence and intended to pursue its demands through political means.
The PTI also claimed that around 1,500 of its workers had been detained across the country, including several members of parliament and provincial legislators.
The party criticised the arrests of elected representatives from Parliament Lodges and areas outside the National Assembly, describing the detentions as an attempt to restrict political activity.
Another opposition alliance also expressed concern over the political situation, arrests of political workers and citizens, and the placement of containers on major roads. It called for the release of detained individuals and the removal of barriers affecting public movement.
In Islamabad, an anti-terrorism court remanded two PTI workers in police custody for 10 days in a case related to the party’s November 26 protest.
Police had requested a longer period of physical remand for investigation, but the court approved 10 days and directed authorities to produce the accused again after completion of the remand period.
In a separate case, five PTI workers arrested in connection with a February 15 protest on Constitution Avenue were sent to Adiala jail for an identification parade.
The court also ordered the president of a vendors’ association to be sent to jail for an identification parade in the same case.
The individual was granted 14 days of judicial remand and directed to be produced before the court again on October 5.
His relatives told the court that he had no affiliation with the PTI and alleged that he was arrested while raising concerns over issues faced by pushcart vendors.
The legal proceedings are linked to cases registered in connection with protests in Islamabad, while authorities continue preparations for the planned September 27 demonstration.
