Over 1,000 Imran Khan supporters arrested as PTI launches fresh protests in Lahore

Crackdown as PTI protests resume

More than 1,000 supporters of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan were arrested on Friday as authorities moved to block his party’s street protests against what it calls military-backed governments at the provincial and federal levels, a PTI leader said.

Punjab police also prevented dozens of vehicles carrying Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters from entering Lahore. The vehicles were accompanying senior party leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who had travelled to the city to launch the protest campaign, opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Moeen Riaz Qureshi said.

Khan, the 73-year-old founder of the PTI, has been behind bars since August 2023 and is facing multiple corruption cases. Senior party figures, including Afridi, have been preparing to roll out a street movement across Punjab province, saying their primary objective is to secure Khan’s release.

The PTI has accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government, both federally and in Punjab, of harassing its leaders under the backing of the military.

“In a crackdown on PTI workers in Lahore, police arrested more than 1,000 workers,” Qureshi said in a statement.

“Afridi has reached Lahore to start this fresh street movement against the government. However, Punjab police stopped dozens of vehicles of PTI supporters from entering Lahore. They were accompanying Afridi,” he added.

The PTI has made at least two earlier attempts to stage nationwide protests. The latest plan was announced a day after Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were each sentenced to 17 years in prison on December 20 in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case.

Earlier this week, Khan, in a post on X, urged Afridi to begin the street campaign against what he termed “Asim Law.” “My message for Sohail Afridi is to prepare for a street movement. The entire nation must rise for their rights. To strive for justice is a sacred duty, and I am ready to lay down my life for Haqeeqi Azadi (true freedom) of my nation,” Khan said, adding that Pakistan was currently being governed solely under “Asim Law,” a reference to Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The PTI had planned to kick off the protests at Liberty Chowk in Lahore from Friday.

Ahead of the demonstrations, a large police deployment was put in place to prevent Khan’s supporters from reaching Liberty Chowk. Punjab police also sealed entry and exit points across the city to monitor and restrict the movement of PTI workers.

Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Afridi said party supporters had been stopped from travelling to Lahore from different parts of Punjab. “Democratic governments do not do things like this,” he said.

Responding to claims by the military’s media wing that Khan posed a “security threat”, Afridi said: “Imran Khan is a symbol of national unity and guarantees political and economic stability.” Earlier this month, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry accused Khan of promoting an “anti-army” narrative, saying it had gone beyond politics and become a “national security threat.”

A Punjab police spokesperson said officers were deployed at multiple locations, including Liberty Chowk, to prevent any unlawful gatherings. On arrests, he said: “Some arrests have been made as no one will be allowed to take law into his hands,” without giving figures.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari, meanwhile, welcomed Afridi to Lahore, saying: “He is free to see the lights, eat local food and enjoy the city, but (is) not allowed to use abusive language or indulge in property damage. That will not be tolerated.” She did not directly address reports of mass arrests but said the provincial government would not allow anyone to break the law.

Afridi is also expected to visit the Punjab Assembly during his three-day stay in Lahore. PTI supporters have attempted street protests across Pakistan at least twice since last year’s elections.