PTI holds march to demand founder’s release

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday held a march in Karachi to demand the release of its incarcerated founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.

The rally started at the Karachi PTI headquarters, Insaf House, and culminated at the Mazar-e-Quaid. A heavy contingent of the police was deployed at the Nursery Bus Stop to stop the march, but after negotiations with PTI leaders, the police allowed the rally to proceed to Shaheed-e-Millat Road and MA Jinnah Road.

PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat, Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh and other leaders led the rally in which many women and children also participated.

During his address to the rally participants, Marwat expressed the hope that the public would turn out in large numbers for the PTI rally planned for April 28 just as they did during the elections.

He said that if the PTI’s mandate had not been stolen, the current rulers would not be in power. Marwat also demanded that Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari order release of the PTI workers taken into custody by the police.

Despite obstacles, the PTI managed to hold the rally and go to the mausoleum of the Quaid-e-Azam. PTI workers from various parts of the city converged at the Insaf House. The march was also halted at several points.

After successful negotiations, the police released five workers detained from around the Insaf House, and permission was granted for the rally to proceed to the Mazar-e-Quaid. At the mausoleum, Marwat addressed the participants and asserted that obstructing peaceful rallies was unacceptable.