RAWALPINDI (MNN); Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Wednesday strongly criticised the police crackdown on its supporters outside Adiala Jail, describing the action as oppression and injustice.
The reaction came a day after police dispersed a sit-in by PTI workers and former prime minister Imran Khan’s sisters near Factory Naka, close to the jail, after authorities refused to allow them to meet the incarcerated party founder.
In an official statement, the PTI said it condemned in the strongest terms what it called the government’s oppression, excessive use of force by police and unlawful actions outside Adiala Jail.
The party claimed that 11 men were detained at Rawat police station, while three women — Zuleikha, Dr Asma and Sanaya Safeer — were taken into custody by Rawalpindi police. It further alleged that Advocate Raja Yasir, MNA Shahid Khattak’s brother Adil, and Tanveer were also arrested.
The PTI demanded the immediate release of all detained men and women and called for criminal proceedings against police officials allegedly responsible for the crackdown.
The party maintained that Imran Khan’s family members and PTI workers were exercising their constitutional and legal right to assemble peacefully to meet him. However, it alleged that the government resorted to force, violence and harassment to suppress the lawful gathering.
According to the PTI, baton charging, pushing and mistreatment continued late into the night without regard for women and children.
The party also accused Rawalpindi police of setting up a checkpoint at Bahria Town on the return route from Adiala Jail, where officers allegedly seized mobile phones, forcibly took women’s vehicles and smashed car windshields.
The PTI claimed that mobile phones and vehicles were returned only after money was taken from citizens, while those who refused to pay bribes had their vehicles impounded. It further alleged that several vehicles remained illegally impounded without any FIR being registered.
The party demanded the immediate return of all seized vehicles and mobile phones and called for judicial inquiries into what it described as open extortion, vandalism and human rights violations.
“This pattern of fascist behaviour by Rawalpindi police has continued for weeks,” the statement said, alleging that the actions amounted to organised government-backed intimidation and lawlessness under the Punjab government.
The PTI asserted that the objective of such measures was to deny Imran Khan and his family their constitutional right to meetings and to spread fear among the public. It also demanded that Imran Khan’s family members and lawyers be allowed to meet him without obstruction.
The party vowed to raise its voice against what it termed oppression and injustice at all constitutional, legal and democratic forums, stating that the country was not the personal property of any police officer or authoritarian government.
Separately, the PTI announced that its Azad Kashmir president and former regional prime minister, Sardar Abdul Qayyum, has launched a street movement from his constituency of Sehnsa.
Last month, the PTI had announced a renewed nationwide street movement on the directives of Imran Khan. The campaign began in Lahore and was followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s visit to Sindh, which concluded earlier this week. He announced that the next phase would focus on areas in KP.
The mobilisation aims to build momentum ahead of the opposition’s planned February 8 protests, marking two years since the general elections, which the opposition alleges were rigged.
