PESHAWAR / ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has reaffirmed its decision to march towards Islamabad on September 27 despite the detention of several party lawmakers, workers and relatives of its imprisoned founder, Imran Khan.
Speaking at a press conference at the Chief Minister House in Peshawar on Monday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the party’s parliamentary committee had resolved to exercise its constitutional right to peaceful protest.
Afridi alleged that the arrests of Imran Khan’s sisters, an incident involving gunfire directed at provincial minister Shakeel Khan and the reported abduction of Labour Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan were intended to disrupt preparations for the demonstration.
He maintained that such actions would strengthen the party’s determination rather than discourage its supporters.
According to the chief minister, men in plain clothes attacked and abducted Fazal Shakoor Khan. He also referred to reports of an attempted abduction of Communications Minister Shakeel Khan in Batkhela.
Afridi said PTI had avoided organising a major protest for the past two years and had instead attempted to address its grievances through parliamentary and judicial channels.
He accused the government of disregarding court orders concerning meetings with Imran Khan, as well as a Supreme Court directive relating to the former prime minister’s treatment at Shifa International Hospital.
The chief minister said peaceful assembly was a constitutionally protected right and announced that the party would disclose further details of its September 27 protest on September 25.
Gohar Claims 1,500 PTI Supporters Have Been Detained
PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called on the authorities to reconsider their approach, claiming that approximately 1,500 party workers had been taken into custody.
He alleged that five PTI members of the National Assembly, a former senator and several provincial lawmakers had been arrested. One provincial assembly member, he said, was detained in Islamabad, while ministers were also being targeted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Gohar questioned the situation in the province, claiming that although PTI governed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, important decisions were being made elsewhere.
He insisted that the party was seeking a political resolution to its grievances rather than confrontation or violence.
According to Gohar, PTI had approached the high courts 25 times and the Supreme Court 19 times during the past four years but had not obtained the relief it sought.
Rejecting suggestions that the party intended to attack Islamabad, he criticised government statements about preventing the march.
Gohar said public concern centred not on the proposed demonstration itself but on the measures being discussed to stop it.
He also stated that no meaningful negotiations with the government had taken place so far.
The PTI chairman called for restraint from both sides, arguing that a political settlement would remain difficult if either party attempted to impose its position on the other.
PTI Condemns Detention of Elected Representatives
In a separate statement, PTI criticised the reported arrests of its lawmakers from Parliament Lodges and outside the National Assembly in Islamabad.
The party’s Central Media Department expressed concern over reports that MNAs Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel, Dawar Khan Kundi, Ahsan Jamal Khan, Mian Ghaus and Adil Khan Bazai had been detained.
It also referred to the reported detention of Chitral MPA Fatehul Mulk.
PTI described the arrests of elected representatives as an attempt to suppress political opposition through the use of state authority and demanded their immediate release.
Meanwhile, Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) expressed concern over the broader political situation, including the detention of political workers, parliamentarians and other citizens.
The alliance also criticised the arrests of Imran Khan’s sisters and the placement of shipping containers on major roads.
It urged the government to review its approach, release those detained and remove barriers obstructing public movement.
Islamabad Court Grants Physical Remand of Two PTI Workers
Separately, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad granted police 10 days’ physical remand of two PTI workers in a case connected to the party’s November 26 protest.
Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain issued the order after police presented the accused before the court and requested additional time for questioning.
The investigating officer sought a 30-day remand, arguing that further interrogation was required in connection with a case registered at Khanna police station.
After hearing the arguments, the court approved 10 days of police custody and directed investigators to produce the accused again when the remand period expires.
In another proceeding, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra ordered five PTI workers arrested over a February 15 demonstration on Constitution Avenue to be transferred to Adiala Jail for an identification parade.
The case was registered at Secretariat police station against PTI workers and supporters accused of involvement in the protest organised by party lawmakers and activists.
In a related matter, Judge Sipra also ordered Rana Shahbaz, president of the Islamabad Pushcart Vendors Association, to be sent to jail for identification proceedings.
