SAHIWAL: The district police reportedly raided residences of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers and office-bearers to arrest them ahead of party’s protest rallies on Friday (today) in different districts, including Sahiwal.

The District Police Officer confirmed that four PTI activists, including a former ticket-holder, were arrested under Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order.

Reports said Chichawatni police arrested two PTI workers, Muhammad Israr and Zaheer Abbas, from villages 20/12-L and 112/12-L, respectively, on Wednesday.

Similarly, Shahbaz Khan Murdana, a former PTI provincial ticket-holder from tehsil Sahiwal, was arrested from his residence by Bahadur Shah police.

There are reports police raided the residences of Chaudhry Asif Ali, Senior Vice President of Central Punjab; Shakeel Khan Niazi, former district president; Sardar Asad Khan Baloch, former Mayor; and Rizwan Muzaffar Shah, district office-bearer but could not trace them.

In a related development, the visit of Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Hyder Khan to Sahiwal has been rescheduled. Sources said the governor, originally slated to visit tomorrow (Friday), will now meet constituents of NA-141 on October 12.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2024