Police in four districts of the Faisalabad region arrested more than 225 leaders and workers preparing to leave for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march on Wednesday.
MNA Faizullah Kamuka along with hundreds of workers left for Islamabad after breaking the barriers around the motorway. PTI leader Rana Javed Ashraf crossed the river with his vehicle in a boat and headed for Islamabad. All interchanges of the motorway were blocked by placing containers while a heavy contingent of police was deployed. Clashes also broke out between PTI workers and police at the Deputy Wala interchange. On the call of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the police crackdown continued for the second day to stop PTI leaders and workers from Faisalabad from participating in the long march.
According to details, over 200 leaders and activists were detained by police in all four districts of the region, including 78 workers from Faisalabad, 68 from Chiniot, 45 from Jhang and 34 from Toba Tek Singh. They have been detained for one month each as detention orders have been issued by the deputy commissioners of the four districts under section 16 of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). All detained PTI leaders and activists have been shifted to jails in other districts due to security concerns.
Moreover, the district police demolished the camp set up by the PTI for its march at Koh-e-Noor Chowk on Jaranwala Road. A heavy contingent of SP Madina Town, SHOs and Dolphin Force led by city police officer stormed the camp. However, workers managed to escape, and one was taken into custody. On this occasion, City Police Officer Syed Nasir Rizvi issued instructions to the personnel to take action when the workers gathered anywhere.
However, PTI MNA Faizullah Kamuka along with hundreds of workers – including Mehboob Alam Sindhu – removed the fence around the motorway. On this occasion, slogans were chanted against the federal government and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah. Fiazullah said that Rana Sanaullah must notice the thousands of workers present on the motorway who will participate in the long march to Islamabad through the motorway.
Former PTI district information secretary Rana Javed Ashraf took the river route to reach Islamabad. He also took the workers and the vehicle across the river by boat and shared a video in this regard.
In his video, he said that 15 to 20 km of the route had been covered by boat and, afterwards, they will leave for Islamabad with vehicles as motorways and other main highways have been closed by the government with containers.
Faisalabad police also deployed heavy personnel at all interchanges of motorways adjoining the district. At all interchanges, as many as 2,200 police officers were on duty with armed and security equipment. Clashes with PTI workers were also reported.
