The PTI on Wednesday strongly condemned the police action against its protesters outside the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi yesterday, terming it “oppression” and “injustice”.

The condemnation comes a day after the police dispersed a sit-in staged by PTI supporters and party founder Imran Khan’s sisters at Factory Naka near the prison after the authorities did not allow them to meet the incarcerated former prime minister.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party said it condemned the “government’s oppression, use of force through police, and unlawful actions” outside Adiala in the “strongest terms”.

Detailing the alleged arrests, the PTI said 11 men were detained at the Rawat police station and three women — Zuleikha, Dr Asma and Sanaya Safeer — were taken into custody by the Rawalpindi police.

“Similarly, Advocate Raja Yasir, [MNA] Shahid Khattak’s brother Adil, and Tanveer have also been arrested,” it added.

In a list of demands, the PTI sought the immediate release of “all arrested men and women”. It added that “immediate criminal proceedings should be initiated against the responsible police officials”.

The PTI asserted that Imran’s family and party workers were exercising their constitutional and legal right when they had gathered outside the prison to meet him.

“[However], the government used force, violence and harassment to crush this peaceful and lawful activity,” it added.

The party alleged that the baton charge, pushing and mistreatment continued late into the night “without any regard for women and children”.

Furthermore, it alleged that the Rawalpindi police set up a checkpoint at Bahria Town on the route returning from Adiala, where they “snatched mobile phones from citizens, forcibly seized women’s vehicles and smashed the windshields of several cars”.

According to the PTI, the mobile phones and vehicles were returned after “taking money” from the citizens, while those who “refused to pay bribes” had their vehicles impounded.

The PTI claimed that “several citizens’ vehicles remained illegally impounded” at the Bahria Town checkpoint, with no first information report (FIR) registered so far.

It demanded the return of all vehicles and mobile phones allegedly seized, and called for judicial inquiries into the “open extortion, vandalism and violations of human rights”.

“This fascist conduct by the Rawalpindi police has been continuing in the same manner for the past many weeks,” the party lamented.

“This is not merely political victimisation, but organised government hooliganism, looting and violation of law by the Maryam-led government,” it said, referring to the Punjab chief minister.

It insisted that the aim of such actions was to “deprive Imran Khan and his family of their constitutional right to meetings and spreading fear among the public”.

In the end, the PTI also demanded that Imran’s family members and lawyers be allowed to meet him without any obstruction.

The PTI, in their statement, assured the public that the voice would be raised against this “oppression, injustice and government-backed strong-arm tactics at every constitutional, legal and democratic forum”.

“This country is not the personal fiefdom of any police officer or authoritarian government, but a trust of the people, and those who plunder this trust will be held accountable,” the party said.

PTI begins street mobilisation in AJK

Separately, the PTI also announced that its Azad Kashmir president and former prime minister of the region, Sardar Abdul Qayyum, has launched a street movement from his constituency of Sehnsa.

In December last year, the PTI announced it was launching a fresh countrywide street movement under Imran’s directives.

The party initiated the movement from Lahore, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s visit. On Monday, he concluded his four-day visit to Sindh for the same purpose, announcing that his next stop will be areas in KP.

The street mobilisation is aimed at garnering momentum in the lead-up to the opposition’s planned February 8 protests, which would mark two years since the general elections that the opposition claims were rigged.