The “Jail Bharo” movement, which the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s kicked off the previous day, ended with no arrests in Peshawar on Thursday, with police claiming that party leaders only arrived for a ‘photo session’.
“Eight PTI leaders had voluntarily presented themselves for arrest but they exited from the [police] van shortly after entering it,” SP Cantt said.
Terming the action a mere “photo session”, police said PTI leaders and workers stepped outside of the police van after a “symbolic” entry.
“Workers even climbed on top of the van and did not give themselves up for arrest,” it said.
PTI leaders including Pervaiz Khattak, Asad Qaiser, and former lawmakers had reached GT Road near Gul Bahar in the morning. Later, they gathered in front of Central Jail in Peshawar.
At one point, they even stepped inside the police van but the law enforcers did not arrest any PTI worker or leader.
Former lawmakers Malik Wajid, Ravi Kumar, and Wazirzada sat in the van but came out again shortly after. Police claimed a prison van was parked at the location but no one volunteered to give arrest.
Later in the evening, Khattak called off the protest on the instructions of party chairman Imran Khan, saying they will give arrests on Friday in Rawalpindi.
