Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi has become the first to take part in the party's "Jail Bharo" movement, courting arrest in Lahore. Reports said police put the PTI vice chairman in the prison van, while other leaders including Zubair Niazi, Asad Umar, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Azam Swati, and Hammad Azhar also surrendered themselves.
Hours earlier, PTI supporters had gathered at Zaman Park, the residence of party chairman Imran Khan, to kickstart the "Jail Bharo" movement in a bid to push for elections and register protests against economic instability and a crackdown on party leaders and workers.
In a rousing speech, Mr. Qureshi asked the workers to be ready for a great cause the PTI has been pursuing. He said Imran Khan had stopped him from offering arrest but he would reach Charing Cross and court arrest as he was a prominent leader and was supposed to lead from the front.
The enthusiasm of the party supporters was palpable as hundreds of PTI activists began their journey toward Mall Road, causing traffic jams on several roads. The party leaders declared that they had made the event a momentous occasion.
The governing body of the PTI’s Central Punjab wing held a key meeting to finalize the strategy for the movement, which will start from the provincial capital and later be extended to other parts of the country. Peshawar will witness the launch of the movement on February 23, while it will start in Multan on February 25, Gujranwala on February 26, Sargodha on February 27, Sahiwal on February 28, and Faisalabad city on March 1.
The social media accounts of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party are abuzz with activity as they strive to motivate their supporters for the upcoming drive. In a video message released the day before, party leader Imran Khan urged his followers to fill up the prisons and break the idols of fear.
This is the latest move by the PTI following the ousting of Imran Khan as Prime Minister in April of last year. The first phase of the plan will see PTI central leaders Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Waleed Iqbal, and Murad Raas, along with 200 or so workers, surrendering to the authorities at Charing Cross, Lahore at 2 pm. Before heading to Mall Road, a ceremony will be held at Zaman Park. If the government refuses to arrest them, the PTI leaders and workers will stage a sit-in at Charing Cross.
Author: Alisha Hussain
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