ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Workers and supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are all set to hit the streets today (Wednesday) to kick start the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ (Court Arrest Movement), just a day after the caretaker government of Punjab led by Mohsin Naqvi imposed section 144, banning all types of gathering in the name of ensuring security for PSL matches.
In a message posted on Twitter the other day, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said “Fill up prisons and shatter the idols of fear.”
Workers and supporters of the former ruling party also took out rallies last night in multiple cities, including Faisalabad, Kasur, and Sheikhupura and elsewhere.
Talking to reporters last night, senior PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that all preparations were completed in this regard, adding that the movement would start from Lahore before expanding to other major cities.
Central party leader, in a brief interview shared on PTI’s Twitter handle said that the movement was aimed at gaining freedom for the nation. The PTI supporters would give up their “individual freedom” for the 220 million people of this country.
“In my personal opinion, the date for election would be announced before things would go to that stage,” he added. Mr Umar, however, did not mention if he would go to jail today.
According to PTI plan, some mid-tier leaders, including former Punjab governor Umer Sarfraz Cheema, Senator Waleed Iqbal, former provincial minister Murad Raas along with more than 200 workers would court arrest in the first phase of the movement.
After Lahore, Peshawar will witness the launch of the court arrest drive on Feb 23. Rawalpindi will follow on Feb 24, Multan on Feb 25, Gujranwala on Feb 26, Sargodha on Feb 27, and Sahiwal on Feb 28. Faisalabad will join the movement on the first day of March.
Earlier, former interior minister and Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid too had announced that he would get voluntarily arrested before PTI Chairman Imran Khan when the ‘jail bharo tehreek’ starts.
Meanwhile, MM News has learnt that due to the expected arrests, one barrack in the Adiala Jail has been immediately cleaned and vacated and its inmates have been shifted to other barracks while dozens of prisoners have been shifted to the prisons in other districts including Chakwal, Jhelum and Attock. Besides that, emergency funds have also been released to the jail administration for newly arriving inmates.
