PTI leader Andleeb Abbas released after brief detention: Punjab police

ISLAMABAD: Punjab police said they have released Andleeb Abbas, a prominent Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader after briefly arresting her from outside Bani Gala on Tuesday.

Earlier, television images showed police officials dragging Andleeb Abbas and other PTI leaders in a bid to take them into custody as they tried to enter Bani Gala.

Punjab police manhandled and baton charged PTI leaders and opened straight rubber bullet fires at the protests on Tuesday, as it was evident from the footages.

Just when a group of PTI leadership and workers from Lahore including Andleeb Abbas and Yasmin Rashid tried to find their way into Bani Gala, the Punjab police dispersed them using tear gas and rubber bullets.

After an intense scuffle and argument between the two parties, police arrested Andleeb Abbas and several other party workers and whisked them away in a police mobile van.

Meanwhile, clashes erupted between PTI supporters and police on Korang Road during which police sprayed rubber bullets and tear gas shells on the protesters.

Commenting on the situation, PTI senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the government was not only arresting PTI workers and leadership but they were also using violence against them.

A crackdown against PTI workers also continued in Rawalpindi where the number of arrested workers of PTI, Awami Muslim League (AML), Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) according to informed sources, gone up to 247 in last two days.