Daily Times

LAHORE: Despite Imran Khan’s call against “state-terrorism”, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday failed to hold a major protest in the city, as most prominent party leaders preferred staying underground to avoid arrests.

Although PTI succeeded in holding small protest rallies at six major spots of the city, including Lahore Press Club, Mozang, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lalik Chowk, Ichhra and Babu Sabu, but there was no significant rally that could show the party’s street power.

The protesters, after holding their rallies, dispersed in a hurry with a claim that they would continue their protests until accountability of the ruling Sharif family, which is involved in the notorious Panama leaks scam.

The biggest rally of the party was comprised on not more than four dozens of workers, led by PTI leader Shafqat Mehmood and city president Waleed Iqbal. Only two female elected members of the Punjab Assembly, MPA Dr Nosheen Hamid and MPA Sadia Sohail, joined them and chanted slogans against the rulers.

MPA Mian Aslam Iqbal, who was elected from Samanabad and Ichhra, held a mini rally in his area in which not more than 50 people participated. They also burnt tyres at the main Ferozpur Road and blocked the traffic, which was later controlled by the district administration.

At Lalik Chowk, Insaf Students Federation (ISF) along with some female activists of PTI held a protest demonstration by carrying handmade placards against the prime minister with a demand that the ruling Sharifs should present themselves for investigation on their offshore companies in Panama.

Charged workers of the ISF on the occasion strongly condemned Nawaz Sharif’s government for using force against their political struggle. They also criticised the undemocratic ways of the rulers, who restricted Imran Khan from coming out of his residence in Bani Gala to join the protest.

Interestingly, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed did not join any protest rally, but instead held a press conference at his chamber. After the conference, he quickly disappeared from the scene, citing security issues.

Anyhow, talking to media, the opposition leader said that PTI leader Ejaz Khan was arrested by the police during a protest at Committee Chowk in Rawalpindi. He said that he would request the
speaker to immediately order his release.

It is worth mentioning that PTI enjoys massive following in the city, as it contested on all 13 National Assembly and 25 Punjab Assembly seats in last general elections. However, no leader came out on the streets on Friday despite Imran Khan’s call against the arrest and torture of party workers during the PTI Youth Convention in Islamabad on Thursday.

Active PTI MPAs including Shoaib Sadiqui and Dr Murad Rass were not seen during the protests. No ticket holder of PTI except Walid Iqbal followed Imran khan’s policy to choke all cities across Pakistan.

According to sources in PTI, most of the leadership has already left the city to join Chairman Imran Khan for Islamabad lockdown.