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ISLAMABAD: The main opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has staged protests in major cities against the proposed 26th constitutional amendment amid the imposition of Section 144 banning public gatherings and demonstrations in the capitals of Punjab and Sindh.
Karachi witnessed a tense situation after police personnel fired teargas shells and baton-charged PTI workers near Empress Market to protest against the government’s efforts to approve the controversial judicial package. were collected.
A group of party loyalists also gathered at the Karachi Press Club despite the closure of several roads leading to the Governor’s House.
Karachi Police has issued an alternative traffic plan for commuters due to the closure of roads from Shaara Faisal to FTC bridge to Metropol, Coast Guard Office to Karachi Press Club, and Arts Council to Press Club due to PTI protests.
DIG South Asad Raza said that 1200 police personnel have been deployed in the red zone area of the city during the PTI protest.
It is worth mentioning here that according to a notification issued earlier today, the Karachi administration has extended the implementation of Section 144 by two more days.
Additionally, the Punjab government has declared a holiday in all private and public schools, universities and colleges in the province for two days i.e. October 18 and 19, apart from imposing Section 144.
Islamabad authorities have also increased security measures in the federal capital and opened only one lane on the arterial road from Islamabad to Rawalpindi. However, the second track of the road was opened for normal traffic.
In Rawalpindi, a police contingent led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kamran Asghar took out a flag march amid PTI’s call for protest. Police, elite force, dolphin force and traffic department officials took part in the flag march.
During this time, more than 3000 personnel were deployed across the city.
Security officials also arrested some PTI workers in various cities as three women workers were arrested in Lahore while 10 more workers were arrested from Dhok Khaba in Rawalpindi who had gathered for the demonstration.
Rawalpindi police officials shifted the arrested PTI workers to Waris Khan police station.
In Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI workers protested outside the Press Club and raised slogans against the proposed constitutional amendment.
He also alleged that former prime minister Khan was illegally imprisoned by the current government and demanded that the “mistreatment” of the party founder be jailed.
The PTI Lawyers’ Forum staged a protest against the proposed judicial package at the District and Sessions Court premises in Gujranwala.
In Faisalabad, police blocked roads to eight central markets at the Clock Tower Roundabout by trucks.
Apart from this, containers were also kept at different places of Gondlanwala Chowk, Sheikhupura Mor and Shiranwala Bagh of GT Road.
Blocking the GT Road at various places led to traffic jams in the city, making it difficult for commuters to reach their destinations.
In Sahiwal, police arrested former PTI MPA Rana Aftab and district president along with 9 activists for protesting at Bhandari Chowk on violation of Section 144.
The party founded by Imran Khan had called for a nationwide protest two days ago against the proposed constitutional package and the party’s founder, who has been behind bars for over a year in various cases.
The party’s political committee said in a statement that it would make every effort to block the passage of the proposed constitutional amendments in both houses of parliament.
The constitutional package, among other things, established a federal constitutional court and fixed the tenure of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) for three years.
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