Imran gives the “peaceful” signal to begin the Jail Bharo movement.
Imran has declared a “jihad” in response to what he perceives to be a “attack” on fundamental rights and a “economic meltdown.”
Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), officially declared the start of the Jail Bharo Tehreek on Wednesday. This campaign to court arrests is part of the party’s protest against the “attack” on fundamental rights and the economic “meltdown” brought on by the current administration.
Starting on Mall Road in Lahore, the movement spread. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Sarfraz Cheema, Usman Akram, and other PTI leaders surrendered to the police and consented to being taken into custody.
The party claims that police officers left the scene after the leaders were put in the prisoner van.
Workers from PTI were told to go to the City Chief Police Officer’s (CCPO) office by the former foreign minister. Members of the party gathered there shortly after.
The former premier elaborated on two causes of the protest movement on Twitter earlier today: “First, it is a peaceful, nonviolent demonstration against the assault on our fundamental rights, which are guaranteed by the Constitution. Second, it fights against the financial collapse brought on by a cabal of thieves who have obtained NROs for themselves while squeezing the populace—particularly the poor and middle class—under the weight of escalating inflation and rising unemployment.”
Along with the nation’s economic problems, he bemoaned the “sham FIRs and NAB cases, custodial torture, attacks on journalists and social media people,” which PTI leaders and supporters have had to deal with since the party was expelled from power.
In the past, the PTI has insisted that the purpose of courting arrests by its members and supporters is to force the government to call general elections and move the nation towards the “establishment of the rule of law.”
The leader of the PTI urged all citizens to join the party’s movement to create a “free and prosperous Pakistan” in a video that was posted earlier today on the PTI’s official Twitter account.
This Jail Bharo movement is a jihad [holy war], which he equated with “freedom,” because it is only possible if the state upholds your fundamental rights.
He continued, “I think the more of you that would participate, the sooner we would reach our goals, that we would achieve true freedom for our country.
PTI is ready.
To officially launch the drive, PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Asad Umar offered to go under court arrest in Lahore.
Senior vice president Fawad Chaudhry made the announcement while speaking to the media in front of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s residence in the provincial capital.
He stated that both senior party leaders and activists would present themselves for arrest to the police at Faisal Chowk on Mall Road.
Fawad claimed that the PTI leadership had decided in a meeting that all senior party officials and members would submit to arrest in order to support the party’s new initiative.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Asad Umar, two prominent party leaders, have offered to accept arrests on the first day of the movement, he continued.
However, the attendees of the meeting insisted that the party adhere to the predetermined programme.
Party sources also claimed that former Punjab education minister Dr. Murad Raas, former governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Waleed Iqbal would all appear for arrest on the first day of the movement.
Under Section 144, Lahore
On the other hand, three areas of the provincial capital, including Mall Road, have already been subject to a week of Section 144 enforcement by the caretaker provincial government.
The government had banned all gatherings, protests, and processions from Mian Mir Bridge to Istanbul Chowk on Mall Road, including its immediate vicinity, the Civil Secretariat and its neighbouring roads, and Main Boulevard Gulberg, according to an official notification issued by the additional chief secretary last Monday.
The notification stated that all assemblies, gatherings, rallies, processions, protests, and other similar activities were forbidden in these areas under Section 144.
Rallies and protests, it continued, posed serious security risks because Gulberg Avenue and Mall Road were historically significant business districts that also housed highly sensitive historical installations.
Additionally, starting on February 26, the Pakistan Super League will be played in Lahore, where a sizable crowd is expected to travel via Main Boulevard Gulberg to the Qaddafi Stadium. As a result, Section 144 is now in effect in Lahore, according to the notification.
On the other hand, it appears that the ruling coalition cannot agree on what the government’s next course of action should be.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Awami National Party (ANP), according to political sources, have advised the government not to detain the PTI workers.
Additionally opposed to making arrests is a section of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The chief organiser for the party’s central committee, however, actively supports the arrests.
