'Long march': Countrywide raids begin against PTI leaders, workers

Lahore: The countrywide crackdown has been launched against PTI leaders and workers, with arrests of dozens of workers ahead of long march announced by PTI chairman Imran Khan.

The development comes hours after PTI's Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry, in a press conference, warned the government against using force to stop the "Azadi March".

The former information minister told the government that it could arrest PTI leaders and workers if it wanted, but it would not be in its favour.

However, police raided Azhar’s home to arrest him, but he was not present there.

Retweeting Hamad Azhar's tweet about the police raid, former law minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the police raid on Hamad Azhar's house was a clear violation of the decision of the Islamabad High Court.

He warned the officers involved that any officer who would play a political role would have to face the consequences.

In Lahore, police also raided the residence of PTI's former information secretary, Farrukh Javed, but he escaped via his home's back door.

In Lahore's Jauhar Town, PTI MPA Sadia Sohail said her house had also been raided. 

"Police violated the sanctity of the four walls of the house," she claimed.

Sialkot police also raided the residence of Usman Dar, however, he was not present at his home, officials said.

PTI's Sahiwal district president, Rana Aftab, and another PTI leader Kanwar Imran also claimed that their houses were raided.

Operation has started on PTI workers in different cities. There are reports of raids on workers and leadership in other cities including Faisalabad, Lahore, Multan, Sialkot and Jhelum. The government is committing political suicide. Who is it, persevere.

PTI leader Shahbaz Gul condemned the police raid on Hamad Azhar's house last night and said that Hamad Azhar and his forefathers had always practiced politics of honesty and nobility. The march will be even stronger, Hamad Azhar will leave Lahore with a large number of people.

Farrukh Habib on the police action against the leaders of Thiruvananthapuram said that all the bureaucracy and the police are sending a message that corrupt dacoits who have come to power under external conspiracy should not accept their unconstitutional and illegal orders which will support them. The whole nation is watching you. Support the truth.

Zartaj Gul said on the crackdown of the police that the imported government has resorted to clever tactics. Are not the ones.

Usman Dar said that the worst crackdown of the police has started. Heavy contingent is present at Jinnah House in Sialkot for my arrest. We will pay the full cost of the process.

It is to be noted that in order to stop the real independence march, police crackdown is going on against the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in different cities of the country at present. Police raids on the homes of several senior leaders, including Mian Aslam Iqbal and Mian Mahmood Al-Rasheed, are continuing.

-- Imran Khan tweets --

PTI Chairman, in a tweet, said peaceful protest was the right of all our citizens, but brutal crackdown on PTI leaders and workers in Punjab  and Islamabad had once again shown us what we are familiar with the fascist nature of PMLN when in power.

Peaceful protest is the right of all our citizens. The brutal crackdown on PTI ldrs & workers in Punjab & Islamabad has once again shown us what we are familiar with - the fascist nature of PMLN when in power. The present crackdown also raises serious questions abt the Handlers.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 23, 2022

"The present crackdown also raises serious questions about the handlers."