The demonstration took place in every constituency of provincial metropolis
Javed Khan
PESHAWAR
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged protest rallies in different areas of the provincial metropolis here on Friday to demand the forthwith release of party founder Imran Khan and dozens of party workers who were behind bars in connection with the May 9 riot cases.
The protest call was given by the chairman of PTI Barrister Barrister Ali Gohar and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur against the “unlawful” arrest of party chairman and rising inflation.
In Peshawar, a large number of activists and supporters of the party took to the streets in almost all constituencies and staged rallies and demonstrations in line with their party’s call of holding countrywide protests.
PTI lawmakers and supporters during the protests used different modes of transport to take part in the rally. They were carrying placards, PTI flags, and portraits of Imran Khan and chanting slogans for his release.
They also raised slogans against the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) led government in the centre and demanded withdrawal of cases against Imran Khan and his spouse and other workers facing cases in military courts.
The protesters also expressed their solidarity with the judiciary for taking “stand” against the force committed by the incumbent government to suppress the workers and leaders of PTI. They condemned the federal government for unprecedented inflation and rising prices of petroleum products.
In PK-83, KP cabinet member and provincial minister for higher education Meena Khan Afridi took part in the protest as well, which was staged at Namak Mandi Chowk in Peshawar city.
Addressing the participants, Meena Khan Afridi said that thousands of people took part in the rallies on the call of PTI leadership, adding that the federal government has failed to provide any tangible relief to people and indulged in unlawful arrest of the party workers and leaders. He said that the workers and supporters are ready to raise their voice in support of its party leader Imran Khan and others arrested in cases related to 9 May incidents.
In PK-78 Hayatabad MPA Sheer Ali Afridi led the rally in which a large number of PTI workers participated. They were carrying party flags and banners inscribed with slogans, seeking release of Imran Khan.
The leaders of PTI from Peshawar including Member of National Assembly (MNA) Arbab Sher Ali, Mahmood Jan Babir, Arbab Jehandad, Irfan Saleem, former Nazim Peshawar Arbab Muhammad Asim and Malik Shahab took part in protest rallies in different locations of Peshawar district.
They alleged that the incumbent federal government has been involved in making fake cases against the party and demanded from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to implement the Supreme Court ruling on reserved seats (Women and Minority).
They said that the apex court had made PTI eligible for the reserved seats but the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) employed delaying tactics to implement the court decision.
PTI workers and supporters took out rallies in Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Malakand division, Karak, Orakzai, Kohat and other districts of the province.
