ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday strongly and unequivocally condemned the ‘blatant and unabated repression’, along with the continued use of brutal force by the Punjab Police against a peaceful and entirely lawful gathering outside the Adiala Jail on Tuesday night.
The party also condemned what it claimed the persistent denial of legally mandated meetings between the party founder Imran Khan, and his sisters and legal team.
In a statement issued by the PTI Central Media Department, the party denounced the escalating incidents of police violence, illegal detentions and organised extortion, including the unlawful arrest and harassment of party workers, women among them. It said these actions constitute a grave assault on the Constitution, the rule of law and fundamental human rights, and reflect a systematic campaign of political victimisation designed to silence dissent through fear and coercion.
However, the party vowed that such fascist conduct by the Punjab government was wholly unacceptable in any democratic society and would be vigorously challenged at every constitutional, legal and democratic forum. The party noted that family members of Imran Khan and party workers were present outside the jail to exercise their constitutional and legal right to meet their unlawfully incarcerated leader. However, the PTI lamented that this peaceful and lawful activity was brutally suppressed through force, intimidation and harassment, in flagrant disregard of the law of the land and basic principles of humanity.
The statement claimed that the Maryam Nawaz-led Punjab government had shown complete disregard for all norms of humanity, law and the protection owed to women and children, as evidenced by its brutal and unlawful conduct; peaceful party leaders and workers, along with Imran Khan’s sisters, were subjected to baton charges, manhandling and abuse.
“As a result of this inhumane operation, 11 male party workers were illegally detained at Police Station Rawat, while three women Zulekha, Dr Asma and Sanaiya Safeer remain in the custody of Rawalpindi Police. Similarly, the PTI stated that Advocate Raja Yasir, Adil the brother of Shahid Khattak and Tanveer were also arrested in clear violation of the Constitution of Pakistan,” it said, adding that that the Rawalpindi Police established checkpoints near Bahria Town, where citizens returning from the Adiala Jail were subjected to blatant lawlessness, with mobile phones forcibly snatched, women’s vehicles seized and the windows of several cars smashed.
Most alarmingly, the PTI stated that citizens were later coerced into paying money to recover their mobile phones and vehicles, while those who refused to pay bribes had their vehicles confiscated. The statement added that several vehicles remain illegally held at the Bahria police post, with neither their return nor the registration of any FIR, and that this fascistic practice by the Rawalpindi Police has continued for several weeks.
The PTI unequivocally declared that this is not merely political victimisation, but a coordinated campaign of state-sponsored looting, and lawlessness under the so-called Maryam government, aimed at depriving Imran Khan and his family of their constitutional right to meet and spreading fear among the public.
The party demanded the immediate release of all detained men and women and full, unobstructed access for Imran Khan’s family members and legal counsel. It called for swift criminal proceedings against the responsible police officials, insisting that they be held fully accountable for their actions.
Likewise, it demanded that all vehicles and mobile phones illegally seized at the Bahria police post must be returned immediately, and demanded a judicial inquiry into this blatant extortion, vandalism, and gross violation of human rights. The PTI assured the people of Pakistan that it would continue to raise its voice against this oppression, injustice, and state-sponsored lawlessness at every constitutional, legal, and democratic forum. The party made it clear that Pakistan does not belong to any police officer or authoritarian regime; it is the people’s sovereign trust, and anyone who seeks to exploit or betray this trust will be held fully accountable.
