Dozens of leaders and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faced repercussions on Sunday as they staged protests in various cities against alleged rigging in the recently held general elections.
Upon the call of the party founder, supporters of the former ruling party took to the streets in Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, and other cities, only to be met with arrests and heavy-handedness by law enforcement.
Despite the government being formed by an electoral alliance led by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, PTI remains at odds, continuously accusing authorities and powerful figures of election result manipulation and rigging. The Election Commission of Pakistan uploaded Form 45 and 47 on its website around four weeks after the polling, but PTI raised concerns, alleging mandate theft by authorities.
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In Lahore, several protesting workers were detained by police at GPO Chowk, while multi-layered anti-riot forces were deployed on Mall Road and other areas to maintain law and order.
In Rawalpindi, a confrontation ensued between several workers of Imran Khan’s party when a demonstration rally led by Seemabia Tahir was prevented from entering the city. Cops detained several party workers, who were later released.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank, party workers and activists conducted a rally from Sabir Bazaar to Town Hall ground.
Furthermore, protests and demonstrations took place in Faisalabad, Vehari, Khushab, Islamabad, Multan, Gujranwala, and other cities.
