ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram on Tuesday strongly condemned the arrest of his party workers outside the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and called it a clear act of political revenge.
“Today, peaceful workers of PTI are being unjustly arrested outside Adiala. This act is a clear attempt of political revenge by the government, which aims to suppress the public voice and intimidate the workers,” he charged in reaction to the development.
The government, he contended, had not only started a series of illegal arrests of workers but also stopped the incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan from meeting his family, lawyers, and important party officials.
“This move is a clear violation of basic human rights, judicial transparency, and democratic values. We send a clear message to the government and the judiciary that all arrested workers should be released immediately and unconditionally,” Waqas said.
He emphasised that every citizen should be given complete freedom to protest legally and peacefully.
He also demanded that Khan’s family, lawyers and representatives of the party should be immediately allowed to meet him.
The PTI spokesman underlined that the government should immediately stop “the policy of political revenge, pressure and intimidation”. He saw these arrests a bid to bar his party from holding the already announced public meeting at Liaquat Bagh on April 9 to mark the removal of PTI government in 2022.
“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf wants to make it clear that we stand with our leader and will continue to fight at all levels to protect public rights, justice and democratic values.
Illegal arrests, restrictions on meetings, or political pressure cannot stop us from our goal,” he maintained.
He also appealed to the public to raise their voice against this unjust behaviour and defend their right to peaceful protest.
