Police detain key leaders of Imran Khan's party from outside parliament

The Islamabad police launched a crackdown on the leadership of the incarcerated ex-prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan’s party – the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) – yesterday. Several party officials were arrested for ‘violating the designated route and failing to conclude their Sunday rally on time’.

Those arrested include party chairman Barrister Ali Gohar, Shoaib Shaheen, and Member of National Assembly Sher Afzal Marwat.

The police raids were conducted at various locations to apprehend additional leaders, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur present at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, where security had been tightened.

According to Islamabad Police sources, an initial list of nine PTI leaders was prepared, and three arrests have been made so far. Preparations were underway to detain more members, including National Assembly members Zain Qureshi, Zartaj Gul, and Waqas Akram Sheikh.

Gohar and Marwat were arrested from outside the National Assembly just after its session ended. Heavy police contingents and prisoner vans were deployed at the main gate, and vehicles exiting the premises were thoroughly searched.

PTI spokespersons confirmed the arrests and raids. Some members took refuge inside the Parliament House service branch, awaiting police action.

It also released footage of the arrests in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

‘Release Imran, or else’

At a large rally held on September 8 in Islamabad, the PTI - Pakistan's largest opposition party - threatened country-wide demonstrations if former prime minister Imran Khan, currently jailed, isn't released.

This was the first time the PTI was able to gather a large number of workers and supporters since Khan was arrested last year in August.

It is also the first time the opposition party was able to hold a large successful gathering due to multiple legal and physical restrictions imposed by the government.

Twenty-nine shipping containers were set up on all the major roads of Islamabad by the city administration.

Despite these blockades, droves of workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Islamabad joined PTI’s demonstration in Sangjani, the last village falling within the capital city's jurisdiction.

The Islamabad administration allowed the PTI to hold the demonstration with 42 conditions after litigation in court, among which was that the rally would end at 7 PM. However, the opposition party couldn't start past the deadline.

Islamabad's district magistrate directed the police to take strict action against the PTI's organizers for violating the permit. As a result, police shelled workers, who lobbed stones in retaliation. Several party workers and police officers were injured in the clashes, including the senior superintendent of Safe City Islamabad.