Pakistan’s government is adopting a firm stance in response to the ongoing protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leaders and activists demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The capital, Islamabad, has been tightly cordoned off to prevent mass gatherings. Amid the tension, rumors surfaced suggesting that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Ganderpur, who arrived to join the protest on Saturday, had been taken into police custody. However, government sources deny the arrest, and PTI leader Barrister Saif stated that Ganderpur was not officially detained in Islamabad.
Despite the denials, PTI claims that Rangers entered KP House in Islamabad to arrest Ganderpur. Reports indicate that police and Rangers stormed KP House earlier in the evening, seeking his detention.
Ganderpur was in Islamabad to participate in the party’s protest, which centers around the demand for Imran Khan’s release. PTI has remained steadfast in their resolve to continue their demonstrations, despite the heightened tensions between police forces and protesters.
Earlier, Islamabad saw clashes between PTI supporters and the police on Friday, leading to a citywide standstill today. Despite the government’s restrictions, PTI leaders and workers have refused to back down, continuing their protests in Lahore and other major cities.
For two consecutive days, Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi have been largely cut off due to the PTI protests and the government’s refusal to ease restrictions. Important roads have been blocked with containers, and mobile networks have been shut down to prevent coordination among the protesters.
On Friday, police arrested hundreds of PTI workers, including senior party leaders, across the country for violating curfew orders and staging demonstrations in cities like Islamabad. In Islamabad alone, over 100 PTI leaders and activists were detained following clashes with the police, during which tear gas and projectiles were exchanged between the two sides.
According to Dawn, important roads in the capital remain blocked by containers today. Schools in Lahore and Islamabad have been closed, and mobile internet services remain suspended.
Meanwhile, the road closures have disrupted court proceedings, preventing a judge from reaching the court to hear the Toshakhana case, which has now been postponed until October 7 and 8.
PTI remains resolute in its efforts to continue protests in Islamabad, despite government-imposed restrictions. Responding to Imran Khan’s call, the party has plans to hold demonstrations at D-Chowk in Islamabad and Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Ganderpur led a protest march to Islamabad, closely monitored by police and Rangers, who later entered KP House in an attempt to arrest him.
In a related development, a district and sessions court in Islamabad has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Ganderpur in connection with a case involving the illegal possession of arms and alcohol.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, meanwhile, condemned PTI’s actions, stating that the party’s sole objective is to destabilize the country. She emphasized that PTI workers deserve no leniency.
