Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers were arrested in Multan and Muzaffarabad on Thursday as the party staged nationwide protests, marking February 8 as ‘Black Day’—the anniversary of the 2024 general elections, which PTI claims were rigged.
Arrests in Multan and Muzaffarabad
In Multan, police detained PTI leaders Meher Bano Qureshi, Zahid Bahar Hashmi, and Dalir Meher at Pull Chatta for violating Section 144, which bans public gatherings. More than 10 PTI workers were also arrested for attempting to hold a rally in the area.
Meanwhile, in Muzaffarabad, authorities detained several PTI workers who gathered at Azadi Chowk to protest. However, some demonstrators managed to escape the police crackdown.
Government Crackdown and Section 144
The arrests come after the government imposed Section 144 across the province, banning all forms of political gatherings, sit-ins, and rallies in the name of public safety and maintaining law and order.
PTI Leader’s Escape and Rearrest
In a dramatic turn of events, PTI leader Khawaja Farooq, also the opposition leader in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, escaped police custody when officers mistakenly placed him in a worker’s car instead of a police vehicle. The driver, realizing the opportunity, sped off before police could react. Officers pursued the vehicle on foot but failed to capture him.
However, authorities later rearrested Farooq, along with 16 other PTI workers, according to officials.
Main ‘Black Day’ Rally in Swabi
Despite the crackdown, PTI is set to hold its main protest rally in Swabi, continuing its demonstrations against the allegedly manipulated 2024 general elections.
