Punjab Police raided the homes of several PTI leaders late Monday, including former energy minister Hammad Azhar, Usman Dar, and Babar Awan, and a police constable was killed during a raid in Lahore.
The news comes just hours after PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry warned the government not to use force to stop the “Azadi March,” which is set to begin on May 25.
The former information minister told the government that it could arrest PTI leaders and workers if it so desired, but that it would not be in its best interests.
According to party sources, 73 workers have been arrested so far. During a raid on one of the PTI’s leaders’ homes in Lahore’s Model Town, police constable Kamal Ahmed was shot in the chest and taken to a nearby hospital, where he died.
According to police, the suspect fired the bullet from a house’s rooftop. “…we are still investigating, but those involved [in the crime] will not be spared,” said DIG Operations Lahore Captain (Retd) Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry.
Meanwhile, despite Fawad’s warning to use force against the PTI ahead of the long march, police raided PTI leaders’ homes across Punjab and Islamabad.
The raids
Hammad Azhar’s house in Lahore was raided by police, but he was not present.
According to Geo News, Lahore Police also raided the home of PTI’s former information secretary, Farrukh Javed, but he escaped through the back door.
PTI MPA Sadia Sohail of Lahore’s Jauhar Town said her home had also been raided. “Police violated the sanctity of the house’s four walls,” she claimed.
Mehr Naeemullah Taj, another PTI leader in Lahore, had his home raided as well. He claimed that police mistreated his family members and mistreated his employees.
Police raided the homes of PTI leaders Malik Ishtiaq and Yasir Gillani, but no arrests could be made because they were not present.
Houses of former special assistant to the prime minister on information Firdous Ashiq Awan, ex-provincial minister Chaudhry Ikhlaq, and PTI leader Tahir Hundli were raided in Sialkot.
Sialkot Police also raided Usman Dar’s home with a large contingent. However, he was not present at his residence, according to officials.
Rana Aftab, the PTI’s Sahiwal district president, and Kanwar Imran, another PTI leader, both claimed that their homes were raided.
Sheikhupura Police raided Mian Zafar’s home but were unable to arrest him because he was not present.PTI leader Rana Sajid of Kamoke also claimed that his home had been raided, but he was not present. “Police detained two of my employees, but they were later released.”
‘Fascist’
In response, PTI Chairman Imran Khan stated that all citizens have the right to peaceful protest.
“The brutal crackdown on PTI leaders and workers in Punjab and Islamabad has once again demonstrated what we have come to expect from the PMLN when it is in power,” he said.
“The current crackdown also raises serious questions about the handlers […] the economy is already in a tailspin,” said the PTI chairman.
Khan warned the “crooks and their handlers” that their undemocratic and “fascist” actions would exacerbate the country’s economic situation and push it into anarchy.
The former prime minister also claimed that protests against his government by the PPP, PML-N, and JUI-F “were never stopped, nor did they carry out any crackdown on their workers.”
“This is the difference between democrats and kleptocrats,” the PTI leader said.
‘We will fight’
In an interview with the media following the raid on his home, Hammad Azhar stated that police had entered his home without a warrant and violated the sanctity of the “four walls of the house.”
“It was a cowardly act by a cowardly government, but the people of Lahore will respond to the incumbent government’s action.” “He stated.
The former minister noted that he was still a member of the National Assembly and that peaceful protest was their democratic and constitutional right.
“I am a former federal minister who is still a member of Parliament because my resignation was not accepted.” “Imagine what they would do to ordinary people if this happened to me,” he added.
Azhar went on to say, “We are not going to flee; we will fight.”
Shafqat Mehmood, a former education minister, and senior PTI leader, strongly condemned the raids and arrests of party members.
“The fascist government reveals its true colors.” Patriotic Pakistanis will continue to fight for what they believe in. “Shameful behavior of imported government and corrupt PM,” he tweeted.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry claimed on Twitter that his home was under surveillance and that a raid was planned, so he had left.
“Now I will arrive in Jehlum, and the ‘Azadi March’ will be successful; these oppressors will be brought to justice,” he promised.
