PTI workers clash with police at checkpoint near jail

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD: A clash erupted between the police and PTI workers at a checkpoint near Adiala jail, Rawalpindi. PTI workers pelted stones at the police, following which several were arrested.

During the arrests, PTI leaders managed to escape from the scene. Later, on the assurance of Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, police released the arrested workers.

After being denied permission to meet Imran Khan, PTI workers staged a protest and threw stones at police near the jail. The police arrested all three of Imran Khan’s sisters and Aliya Hamza, MNA Shafqat Awan, and several other workers. Sahibzada Hamid Raza voluntarily surrendered.

Tuesday was scheduled for meetings between PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi with family. Family members Mehrun Nisa and Mubashara Sheikh were allowed into the jail after approval.

However, the vehicles of Barrister Gohar, Salman Akram Raja, and Zaheer Abbas Chaudhry were stopped at a checkpoint and even denied permission to proceed on foot.

Police raided PTI workers near Adiala Jail, arresting four protestors, including two women. Aleema, Uzma Khan, and cousin Qasim Khan Niazi were stopped near a private pharmaceutical company before reaching the jail.

A large number of PTI workers gathered on Adiala Road, chanting slogans against the government and blocking the road. Despite Omar Ayub’s attempts to stop them, workers insisted on marching towards the jail.

Three sisters of Imran Khan remained at the checkpoint. More PTI leaders and workers gathered at Adiala Road and Gorakhpur. Police detained four more individuals, including MNA Shafqat Awan. Eventually, Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, Noreen Khan, and Qasim Niazi were all taken into custody and transported in a police van.

Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Secretary General PTI Salman Akram Raja and Leader of Opposition in the Senate Syed Shibli Faraz held a press conference here.

Meanwhile, according to jail authorities at Central Jail Rawalpindi, meetings between the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi are being arranged regularly and as per routine.

The jail authorities emphasized that false and baseless propaganda by certain elements claiming that meetings are not being allowed is merely for political point-scoring and has no connection to reality.

Meanwhile, PTI’s Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Syed Ali Zafar Tuesday said the founder chairman confirmed to having permitted Azam Swati to hold dialogue (with the establishment) ‘for the sake of Pakistan and people’.

Talking in a talk show of a private TV channel, Ali Zafar, who met earlier in the day with Imran Khan in Adiala jail Rawalpindi, said that when he asked him about having given any instructions to Azam Swati for negotiations/ dialogue, he replied in the affirmative.

“If holding of dialogue or negotiations are necessary for the country and people, then he (Swati) may do so but there should be no mention of relief for me, as cases against me are fake and baseless and I want to win them in courts,” the senior PTI leader quoted the party founder as telling him. Ali Zafar also said that the party supremo talked about denial of facilities to him and instructed him to file a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan to settle once and for all this matter.

He said the party founder clarified that he has nothing to do with the anti-Pakistan bill in the US Congress and if someone is making a statement, then PTI is not related to it. When asked if Imran wants dialogue with government also, Ali Zafar said this was not discussed.