LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s senior leaders, incarcerated in Kot Lakhpat Jail, have termed Punjab and Sindh governments’ actions of arrests and baton-charging of peaceful protesters as mockery of democracy.
A hand-written letter signed by PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed titled “Is this Democracy” was delivered here on Wednesday.
The PTI leaders stated that a peaceful protest call was given by the party for Aug 5 but the “response of the Form-47 government showed its insecurity to the highest level.”
In the National Assembly, the incarcerated leaders stated, the parliamentarians were locked inside on Aug 5 as they were preparing to leave for Adiala Jail. “Did the Speaker, who is the custodian of the House, ordered this atrocity or was he never taken into confidence – is this democracy,” they questioned.
They stated that MPAs including deputy opposition leader Moeen Riaz Qureshi were arrested from Lahore, while he was leading a rally in support of Kashmir cause. “Isn’t mockery of democracy,” they asked.
Mr Qureshi and other leaders stated that some 800 party workers and third-tier leadership were arrested from Punjab. They said PTI Punjab chief organiser Aliya Hamza’s car was destroyed by the police goons, when she took out a rally. They stated Rehana Dar was arrested along with other women workers.
The incarcerated leaders resolved that all the PTI leaders at Kot Lakhpat Jail were standing firm with Imran Khan’s stance. “We believe in the rule of law and our Constitution,” they stated.
Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2025