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Tag: PTI

  • Imran Khan to get bail within three months, predicts Najam Sethi

    Imran Khan to get bail within three months, predicts Najam Sethi

    Political commentator Najam Sethi has predicted that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, will get bail within three months.

    Appearing on Samaa News Najam Sethi stated on Thursday that former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will be in his home in Zaman Park or Bani Gala within the next three months.

    In response to the programme host Ayesha Naz’s question whether Khan would remain under house arrest or not, Najam Sethi stated that “there is no issue of Imran Khan being in house arrest, he will be free.”

    It may be noted here that former PM Imran Khan was arrested on August 5 last year from his residence in Zaman Park, Lahore, shortly after his conviction in the Toshakhana case and has been in jail since then on multiple charges. 

    Imran Khan’s party had orchestrated protests in Pakistan’s heart, Islamabad, which resulted in multiple casualties.

     
    Referring to the PTI’s recent protest march towards the federal capital, Sethi said, “It was his [Imran Khan] last public card; he [Imran Khan] won’t t be able to use the public card for the next three to four months, and [Khan] knows that.”

    Responding to the PTI’s next probable march to the federal capital, Najam Sethi maintained that there would be “no long march for at least one year towards Islamabad.”

    Najam Sethi observed that by the time the grand operation started on Tuesday night, Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur advised former First Lady Bushra Bibi to leave the federal capital.

    “Bushra Bibi was scared; her guards disappeared, and then she decided to leave the federal capital,” Sethi added.

    Furthermore, Najam Sathi reiterated that the federal government had helped CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan’s spouse to escape from the scene.

    Earlier, PTI sources told Geo News that prior to the Tuesday night grand operation on PTI demonstrators, the government facilitated Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur to escape from Islamabad.

    On Tuesday night (November 26), security forces launched a grand operation at D Chowk to disperse the protestors, leading to multiple casualties.

    Reportedly, prior to the operation, markets in all nearby areas were closed, and streetlights were also turned off; the operation was completed within two and a half hours, leading to the arrest of more than 500 protesters from D-Chowk and its nearby areas.

  • PTI leaders question Bushra Bibi’s role in party decision-making

    PTI leaders question Bushra Bibi’s role in party decision-making

    The core committee and political committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday inquired about the role of party founder Imran Khan’s spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the party’s decision-making process. 

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s party emphasised that decision-making authority should be in the hands of the party’s political leadership and not non-political persons, a party source told The News.

    PTI leadership raised the question of who led the protest towards D Chowk Islamabad when Imran himself had ordered that demonstrations be limited to the Sangjani area. Some members questioned why Imran Khan’s directions were ignored, asking who acted against the PTI founder chairman’s order. 

    However, party sources claimed that in both meetings, no one defended Bushra Bibi.

    Investigative journalist Ansar Abbasi revealed that CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur and Opposition Leader of the National Assembly Omer Ayub Khan conveyed Imran Khan’s message to Bushra Bibi to limit the protest march at Sangjani area; however, she remained adamant about marching towards D Chowk.

    Ansar Abbasi had claimed that following the meeting of Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and KP’s Advisor of Information and Broadcasting Barrister Saif with party founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi provided them with a helicopter to fly to Bushra Bibi and convince her to stop the march.

    However, two PTI leaders were a bit late as the march had already moved to the federal capital.

    On November 21, incarcerated Imran Khan had put demands before the federal government, including his release till Friday (November 22), to postpone his “final call” which the government did not agreed.

    PTI political and core committee on Wednesday condemned the alleged killing of their party demonstrators by the government. They demanded initiating the probe from within the party to identify those responsible for the decision to march to D Chowk, which led to the workers’ deaths.

    In the party meeting, it was also maintained that if the party founder’s direction had been strictly followed, there would have been a sit-in at Sangjani, and it would not only have avoided the killing of party workers but would have also led to the initiation of a formal dialogue between the Prime Minister (PM) Shahbaz Sharif’s led government and PTI.

    It should be mentioned here that following the Tuesday night grand operation against the protestors in the federal capital, multiple casualties were reported.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership claimed that more than twenty party workers had died. However, the government denied such a number of casualties.

  • PTI to be banned? Faisal Vawda certainly thinks so

    PTI to be banned? Faisal Vawda certainly thinks so

    Following Tuesday’s violent clashes between followers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and law-enforcing forces in the federal capital, which led to multiple casualties, Senator Faisal Vawda, while appearing on the Geo News programme Capital Talk on Wednesday, claimed that former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s party will be banned.

    The Senator’s remarks came about as the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) decided to table a resolution in the Balochistan Assembly seeking a ban on PTI after clashes with security officials during the three-day-long party protest.

    PML-N parliamentary leader Saleem Khosa, who is set to tabled the resolution to suspend PTI, commented, “Once again, it [the former ruling party] is carrying out violent actions.”

    Faisal Vawda stated, “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister [Ali Amin Gandapur] will not be arrested, but Bushra Bibi [Imran Khan’s wife] will.”

    Faisal Vawda also pointed out the absence of PTI’s big names during the recent protest: “Where was Omar Ayub Khan, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly?”

    He alleged that the former First Lady has a “major role” in bringing founder Imran Khan’s party to a “dead end.”

    Vawda took a jab at Imran Khan’s spouse, saying, “Woman [Bushra Bibi] said she would march on D-Chowk but later ran away.”

    He criticised Bushra Bibi for insisting on marching towards D Chowk despite the party’s big wigs having agreed to change their protest venue to the Sangjani area, in the outskirts of the federal capital.

    It should be mentioned here that PTI marched towards Islamabad on the “final call” of party founder Imran Khan.

    PTI demanded the reversal of the recently passed 26th Constitution Amendment, the “stolen mandate,” and the release of all party political prisoners, including Imran Khan.

    On September 8, PTI staged a rally in Islamabad. However, the November 24 protest was different as the party founder’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was leading the convoy along with CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur.


     
    Following the crackdown on demonstrators on Tuesday night, former First Lady along with Ali Amin Gandapur had fled from Islamabad to Masehra.

    However, CM Gandapur, while addressing party workers and media persons in Mansehra on Wednesday, declared, “This is not just a political demonstration but a fight for our fundamental rights.” 

    He also claimed that hundreds of his party workers were killed during the grand clearance operation in Islamabad, which the government denied.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar had, on Tuesday night, said that “no bodies fell in the operation.” Government officials and ministers have also alleged that PTI protesters caused severe damage to public and government property in the federal capital.

  • PTI’s protest ongoing, will continue till Imran Khan calls it off: Gandapur

    PTI’s protest ongoing, will continue till Imran Khan calls it off: Gandapur

    Hour after fleeing from Islamabad to Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur has broken silence over the abrupt end to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” protest in the federal capital, saying that the “sit-in will continue” until party founder Imran Khan calls it off.

    “This is not just a political demonstration but a fight for our fundamental rights,” CM Gandapur said while addressing party workers and media persons in Mansehra on Wednesday.

    PTI had on late Tuesday night called off its Islamabad sit-in “for the time being” after violent clashes with law enforcement.

    “In view of the government’s brutality and plan to turn the capital into a slaughterhouse for unarmed citizens, [we] announce the suspension of the peaceful protest for the time being,” PTI’s official X (formerly Twitter) account said in a press release on Wednesday morning.

    In his maiden public appearance following the developments, CM Gandapur accused the government of oppressive actions against PTI supporters and highlighted the “illegal detentions”, “uncalled for violence against peaceful demonstrators” and restrictions on freedom of assembly.

    He also claimed that hundreds of his party workers were killed during the grand clearance operation in Islamabad.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar had, however, on Tuesday night said that “no bodies fell in the operation”. Government officials and ministers have also alleged that PTI protesters caused severe damage to public and government property in Islamabad.

    Addressing media persons, CM Gandapur also complained that whenever his party announced a rally or procession, they were denied permission. “Even the courts are not providing justice,” he said.

    “When we approach courts for justice, we don’t get justice, nor do we get the floor of the parliament that is against the sanctity of the House. Our only option to deliver our message is to protest if we are not allowed to hold public gatherings,” Gandapur added.

    He claimed that the government was involved in direct attacks on him and Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi during the protest, and called out the federal government by saying that they had “broken Pakistan once before” and were “doing so again”.

    “Our province knows how to secure its mandate, it knows how to claim its rights, and it knows how to protect its people.”

    The government had on Tuesday night launched a grand operation starting from D-Chowk in Islamabad to end PTI’s protest campaign. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Information Minister Tarar at around 2 am addressed media persons to announce that the government had successfully quashed the demonstrations that continued for three days.

  • PTI calls off Islamabad protest

    PTI calls off Islamabad protest

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called off its Islamabad sit-in for the time being following Tuesday night clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

    PTI’s official X (formerly Twitter) account issued a press release on Wednesday morning that reads, “In view of the government’s brutality and the government’s plan to turn the capital into a slaughterhouse for unarmed citizens, [we] announce the suspension of the peaceful protest for the time being.” 

    On Tuesday night, security forces launched an operation at D Chowk to disperse the protestors.

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    Reportedly, prior to the operation, markets in all nearby areas were closed, and streetlights were also turned off; the operation was completed within two and a half hours, leading to the arrest of more than 500 protesters from D-Chowk and its nearby areas.

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    In some videos posted on social media, scenes of D-Chowk after the operation are shown, and dozens of broken windows of vehicles can be seen on the federal capital’s Jinnah Avenue. 

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    PTI, in its statement shared on X, appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Yahya Afridi, to take suo motu notice of the alleged “brutal murder of martyred [party] workers” and order legal action against the prime minister and interior minister as well as Islamabad and Punjab police chiefs for “attempt to murder”.

    Two demonstrators were killed and over 60 injured in clashes between security forces and protestors on Tuesday night.

    The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) confirmed the civilian death toll.

    On the contrary, the PTI, in a statement, claimed that “dozens” of its workers were shot at directly and killed, saying that the party had the details of eight deceased.


    Meanwhile, former First Lady Bushra Bibi, Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur and National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan will address an “emergency” press conference today.

  • CCTV footage debunks claims of Rangers’ vehicle crushing security personnel

    CCTV footage debunks claims of Rangers’ vehicle crushing security personnel

    The release of a CCTV footage on social media has rubbished earlier claims that four Rangers personnel were crushed by security vehicles amid violent protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in and around Islamabad.

    The PTI, on founder Imran Khan’s call, has marched on the federal capital in protests that went violent with clashes between party workers and law enforcement personnel. The law and order situation took a turn for the worse as at least four Rangers personnel and two cops were martyred on Tuesday morning at around 3 am.

    With law enforcement claiming that the Rangers personnel were crushed by a fast-moving vehicle from one of PTI’s convoys, the party claimed that the vehicle belonged to paramilitary personnel themselves.

    Safeer Ali, an eyewitness of the incident and brother of the civilian who was also killed in the incident near Islamabad’s Chongi Number 26, claimed that he looked on as “fleeing police and Rangers deliberately ran people over as they sped away”.


    The claim, which went viral after Ali’s interview to senior journalist Matiullah Jan outside Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), was, however, debunked after the release of CCTV footage of the incident.

    The CCTV footage showed a Rangers check-post with a group of paramilitary troops standing at ease. In the background, a private vehicle can be seen crushing a separate group of Rangers personnel as it speeds away.

    “The video clearly shows that the witness lied about the details of the incident in his interview. He had said that, ‘I was standing there with my brother and PTI supporter who was a former FC [Frontier Constabulary] soldier. Rangers crushed him while fleeing. [The video shows] no witnesses or Rangers fleeing. They are standing at ease,” journalist Waseem Abbasi wrote while sharing the CCTV on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

    Meanwhile, the federal government, in wake of violent protests and deaths of security personnel, has deployed army in Islamabad by invoking Article 245 of the Constitution. 

    A notification issued by the Interior Ministry said that army has been authorised to impose a curfew in any locality deemed necessary to maintain law and order.

    Security forces have also reportedly been authorised to shoot miscreants and rioters on sight.

    By the time this report was filed, PTI demonstrators had reached their destination, D-Chowk, amid intense tear-gas shelling.

  • VIDEO: Army personnel hug PTI protesters atop containers at D-Chowk

    VIDEO: Army personnel hug PTI protesters atop containers at D-Chowk

    The political situation in Pakistan is becoming tense by the minute as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters have entered Islamabad on former prime minister Imran Khan’s “final call”, meeting heavy resistance from law enforcement along the way.

    With violent overnight protests resulting in the deaths of at least six security personnel, including four Rangers, the federal government has deployed army to quash the protests and keep PTI workers from advancing to D-Chowk.

    Amid high-running tensions, a video that went viral on X (formerly Twitter), showed PTI protesters climbing on top of containers set up to block access to D-Chowk. With army personnel present on the containers already, they were seen helping and embracing the protesters.

    The move was welcomed by authorities and protesters alike. Unconfirmed reports claim that army personnel also made announcements over loudspeakers, urging PTI workers to remain peaceful because the military won’t open fire on its own people.

    Earlier in the day, a fast-driving car ran over law enforcement personnel on the federal capital’s Srinagar Highway.

    As tensions between law enforcement and protesters ran high, the federal government deployed military in Islamabad by invoking Article 245 of the Constitution.

    A notification issued by the Interior Ministry said that army had been authorised to impose a curfew in any locality deemed necessary to maintain law and order.

    Reportedly, security forces have also been empowered to shoot miscreants and rioters on sight. Furthermore, a group of armed men reportedly pelted stones and opened fire on security personnel at Chungi No 26 in Rawalpindi, leading to another Rangers official getting injured. He was shifted to hospital in critical condition.

    Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while talking to the media, said the government had talked and engaged with protesters “in every possible way”.

    “They hold talks and then pull out,” the minister claimed, adding that roads were opened so that PTI workers could make their way to Sangjani instead of D-Chowk.

    “The PTI leadership wants to hold talks, but a secret hand is controlling the party and it is stronger than all others. They have some other motives,” he said.

    Naqvi’s comments came after reports claimed that PTI leadership, including founder Imran Khan, had approved shifting the protest to Sangjani amid violent clashes. The same was disapproved by Khan’s wife and former first lady Bushra Bibi, who said she would continue leading protesters to D-Chowk till she had spoken to her husband herself.

  • Army deployed in Islamabad after PTI workers martyr four Rangers

    Army deployed in Islamabad after PTI workers martyr four Rangers

    Four Rangers personnel and two police officers were killed on Monday night prior to the deployment of the Pakistan Army in the federal capital.

    According to Islamabad police, a fast car drove over the cops on the federal capital’s Srinagar Highway.

    The federal government has deployed the Army in the federal capital by invoking Article 245 as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoy crossed sector G-9. 

    A notification issued by the Interior Ministry states that the army has been authorised to impose a curfew in any locality deemed necessary to maintain law and order.

    Reportedly, security forces have also been empowered to shoot miscreants and rioters on sight.


    Furthermore, a group of armed men reportedly pelted stones and opened fire on security personnel at Chungi No 26 in Rawalpindi, leading to another Rangers official getting injured, who was transferred in a critical situation to CMH hospital.

    Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attack on security forces and directed the authorities to bring the culprits to justice.


    Shahbaz Sharif maintained that anarchist group seeks bloodshed, observing that this is not a peaceful protest but extremism.

    Following the funeral of martyred police Constable Mubashar Bilal in Rawalpindi at Police Line in Rawalpindi, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi revealed that the federal government had offered PTI leadership an alternative to stage their sit-in at Sangjani rather than entering the Islamabad’s red zone.

    “They come [to D-chowk], and we let them go; this cannot happen; now, we have shown leniency where necessary, but once the red line is crossed, the government will take extreme steps,” the Interior Minister clarified.

    Meanwhile, according to local police, PTI demonstrators have reached Zero Point Islamabad from where the red zone premises start and where the army had already deployed.

    Zero Point

    The protestors reportedly pelted stones towards security personnel, and police have been shelling to disperse the demonstrators.

    Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur and former First Lady Bushra Bibi also accompanied the convoy, which reached Zero Point Islamabad.

  • FACT CHECK: Did PTI workers stop Ali Amin Gandapur from ‘fleeing’ on Nov 24?

    FACT CHECK: Did PTI workers stop Ali Amin Gandapur from ‘fleeing’ on Nov 24?

    A video of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has circulated on social media, showing party followers surrounding him and preventing him from leaving.

    The video has been claimed to be from the November 24 PTI protests, but journalists assert it is old.

    In the video, Gandapur can be heard urging party workers to let him go to the rest area for ablution, pledging to return after offering prayers.

    PTI followers blocked Gandapur’s car, fearing that the KP CM might escape from the scene, as he had done during recent protests.

    Last month, Ali Amin Gandapur disappeared from KP House in Islamabad, leaving thousands of party workers behind, only to suddenly appear before the KP provincial assembly in the evening.

    “We will go, Adiala,” a party follower can be heard replying to Gandapur.

    The video quickly gained attention, with netizens trolling Gandapur, claiming he wanted to escape to KP again.

    However, the video is old, and many journalists have since apologised for sharing it.

    Journalist Waseem Abbasi corrected himself after sharing the old video clip, noting he had been informed that the video of Gandapur arguing with party workers was from a previous incident, and he deleted the post accordingly.

  • PTI marches on Islamabad for second day despite heavy resistance

    PTI marches on Islamabad for second day despite heavy resistance

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday continued its march on Islamabad despite facing heavy resistance by law enforcement agencies amid closure of intra-city routes and cellular service by the government to quash the protest rally.

    PTI founder Imran Khan had on November 13 issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 24, denouncing the “stolen mandate” of his party, unjust arrests of PTI workers and the 26th Constitutional Amendment by the “dictatorial regime”. 

    With party leadership urging workers and supporters to join the march on the federal capital, thousands gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) — where PTI is in power — in the days leading to Nov 24 despite the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declaring the planned protest as unlawful. With the high court refusing PTI the permission to protest in Islamabad due to Belarusian president’s visit among other reasons, the government had expressed its resolve to bar the PTI from entering the federal capital come what may.

    Caravans led by senior leadership of the PTI from all across the country on Sunday started their march on the capital. They, however, failed to reach their “destination” – D-Chowk in Islamabad – after meeting heavy resistance by law enforcement who resorted to the use of tear gas shells and non-lethal rounds.

    On Monday, the convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur and former first lady Bushra Bibi resumed its march on the federal capital, overcoming obstacles set up by the government from the Punjab-KP border near Attock till Islamabad.

    PTI leadership made it clear that they were in “no hurry” for their “do-or-die” protest as party workers and supporters across the country tried to evade arrest and police action.

    “Our destination is Islamabad, but we can take a day or two to reach there and let the government machinery remain panicked,” revealed senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser.

    Reports said that a majority of protesters marching towards the federal capital belonged to KP, while the leadership had failed to mobilise workers in Punjab and Islamabad due to police crackdown in the days leading to the protest. They also quoted sources within the party as saying that the people of Punjab and Islamabad were waiting for the “main convoy” to reach the capital for support.

    Multiple cases have been registered against PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Aleema Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur. Omar Ayub and Arif Alvi have also been booked under terror charges over the protests.

    Earlier, massive PTI processions from KP entered Punjab via Attock, Chach Interchange and Ghazi Barotha Canal. Another PTI convoy from Haripur reached Attock Bridge where it was met with heavy resistance from the police, leading to a clash.

    With the march continuing on the second consecutive day and main procession led by CM Gandapur still on its way – having reached Burhan interchange by the time this report was filed – citizens across Punjab are facing extreme difficulties as public life has been disrupted amid closure of motorways, all major roads and the shutdown of cellular service. Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus service has also been suspended besides the closure educational institutes in twin cities.

    Meanwhile, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has revealed that the country suffers a mammoth loss of Rs190 billion a day due to the closure of roads among other steps taken by the government to bar PTI from entering the federal capital.