Pakistani authorities have escalated their crackdown on members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party ahead of a planned rally in Lahore. Late on Thursday, police arrested the father of prominent PTI activist Sanam Javed during a raid at his residence, as part of ongoing efforts to detain individuals linked to the May 9 unrest, reports revealed.
The arrest of Javed Iqbal, Sanam Javed’s father, occurred in Lahore’s Wahdat Colony, where a heavy police presence was reported. He was taken into custody and transferred to an undisclosed location.
The May 9 incidents, which saw widespread clashes and damage during a period of political instability, remain a focal point for law enforcement as they intensify their operations.
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PTI vows to continue rally despite arrests and raids
As the PTI Lahore rally, scheduled for September 21, draws near, the party remains defiant in the face of mounting police raids and arrests. PTI leadership, including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, has confirmed that the rally will proceed, regardless of whether local authorities grant formal permissions.
Lahore police, in response, have implemented a detailed security plan for the event. This includes the installation of surveillance cameras at key entry points and the deployment of officers armed with photographs and data of individuals wanted in connection with the May 9 unrest. Senior police officials will oversee the security operation to ensure strict measures are enforced.
In addition to Iqbal’s arrest, PTI parliamentary leader Ali Imtiaz Warraich was briefly detained and later released. Meanwhile, another raid targeted the residence of PTI leader Aliya Hamza, who had only recently been released on bail after 16 months of imprisonment.
PTI has responded by filing a petition with the Lahore High Court, arguing that the arrests violate the constitutional rights of its members. The petition, submitted by party leaders Sheikh Imtiaz Mahmood and Yasir Gillani, seeks protection from further detentions as police operations continue to ramp up ahead of the rally.
