The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), despite the imposition of Section 144 restrictions in Punjab and Sindh capital, staged protests in major cities against the proposed 26th constitutional amendment and party founder Imran Khan’s imprisonment on Friday.
Karachi witnessed a tense situation as police personnel fired tear gas shells and restored to baton charge on the PTI activists who gathered near Empress Market for a protest against the government’s attempts to pass the contentious judicial package.
A group of party loyalists also gathered at Karachi Press Club despite the closure of several roads leading to the Governor’s House.
DIG South Asad Raza said that 1,200 police personnel have been deployed in Red Zone area of the metropolis amid the PTI protest.
It is noteworthy to mention here that the Karachi administration extended the enforcement of Section 144 for an additional two days, until October 19, according to a notification issued earlier today.
Moreover, the Punjab government also imposed Section 144 in the province for two days — October 18 and 19 besides announcing a holiday in all private and public schools, universities and colleges.
Islamabad authorities have also heightened security measures in the federal capital and opened only one lane on the arterial road from Islamabad to Rawalpindi. However, the other track of the road was opened for general traffic.
In Rawalpindi, police contingents led by Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Kamran Asghar conducted a flag march amid PTI’s call for protest. Personnel from police, elite force, Dolphin Force, and traffic department took part in the flag march.
Meanwhile, more than 3,000 officials were deployed across the city.
Security officials also arrested some PTI workers in different cities as three women workers were arrested in Lahore while 10 more activists were arrested from Rawalpindi’s Dhoke Khabba who were gathering to hold demonstrations.
Rawalpindi police officials shifted the arrested PTI workers to Waris Khan Police Station.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital Peshawar, PTI workers organised a protest outside the press club and shouted slogans against the proposed constitutional amendment.
