ISLAMABAD: The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) will continue its rally in Islamabad after hundreds of activists were arrested on Friday and changed its protest venue.
The PTM had announced to hold a sit-in outside the building of the Supreme Court of Pakistan against enforced disappearances until the production of the missing persons in the apex court.
PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen said several members of the group have been detained as they attempted to reach the Supreme Court building to demand that the state protects their rights and ensure security.
Police detained dozens of PTM activists en route to the protest venue using road closures and obstacles to try and stop large conveys of protesters headed to the federal capital.
Despite challenges created by authorities, Pashteen said the PTM activists will continue their journey and still plan to protest outside of the Supreme Court in Islamabad.
“Road closures, roadblocks, police violence, and attempted arrests. In the midst of all this, PTM youths are resisting and moving forward,” Pashteen said.
Later Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti said that PTM agreed to stage a public gathering at Tarnol instead of outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The interior minister said following successful talks with the government, the PTM has agreed to change the venue of its public gathering from in front of the Supreme Court to Tarnol.
The interior minister ordered the immediate release of the PTM activists detained in Lahore, Peshawar, and other cities. He also thanked the PTM leadership for cooperating with the caretaker government.
The district police have claimed the arrest of more than 50 PTM activists heading to participate in the gathering. Law-enforcement agencies arrested the top leaders including PDM’s Naimatullah Wazir of PTM and National Democratic Movement’s (NDM) Hassan Nasir.
Islamabad administration on Thursday imposed Section 144 for an indefinite period, banning rallies in the federal capital jurisdiction.
