PTI leaders go underground as crackdown intensifies

PESHAWAR: Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders went underground after the federal government intensified its crackdown against the leadership, citing sources, ARY News reported on Friday.

The federal government intensified its crackdown against PTI leaders across the country following the political unrest caused by the arrest of former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan.

Earlier today, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) single bench barred authorities from arresting former prime minister Imran Khan in any new case registered against him after May 9. IHC single bench Mian Gul Hassan heard Imran Khan’s plea and barred authorities from arresting him in any new case till May 17. The single bench also orders authorities to provide foolproof security to Imran Khan.

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However, several PTI central leaders Shireen Mazari, Dr Yasmin Rashid and Malik Aamir Dogar have been arrested in different cities today.

Sources said that the federal government expressed displeasure over authorities fail to arrest the nominated PTI leaders. In several raids at the politicians’ houses, police nabbed family members in the absence of the leaders.

Additionally, the interior ministry prepared a list of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders who will be arrested in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) including Peshawar, Khyber, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mohmand, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Tank and other districts.

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Women leaders of the political parties were also among the 99 keaders who were included in the interior ministry’s list.

The ministry also included the names of former governor, ex-ministers, ex-NA and PA lawmakers for their arrests.

Police report on arrests, cases

KP police compiled a report regarding the arrests and the registration of cases after violent protests. According to the report, overall 85 First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged against the violent protests in KP.

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21 FIRs have been lodged in Peshawar, 5 in Haripur, 4 each in Charsadda and Khyber. Moreover, 672 protestors were arrested across the province.

164 protestors were arrested in Peshawar, 44 in Mardan, 18 in Nowshera and 41 in Haripur. 316 accused were arrested for the violation of Section 144 which also included former lawmakers.