In an effort to thwart the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s mass mobilisation campaign in Punjab, local police have conducted raids on the homes and offices of PTI leaders, sparking accusations of heavy-handed tactics. The campaign, spearheaded by PTI Punjab chief organiser Aliya Hamza Malik, aimed to energize the party’s supporters across the province.
The crackdown reportedly included aggressive police actions, with Malik sharing videos purportedly showing police officers damaging property and detaining individuals. One of the affected was PTI Mandi Bahauddin district president Tariq Mahmood Sahi, who had planned a workers’ convention at his residence. His home was raided and property damaged shortly after convening a meeting of party leaders.
Similar incidents were reported in other areas, including the ransacking of homes belonging to Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz Panjotha and Hamayun Aslam Warraich. Warraich’s brother was also arrested during the police operation. The homes of various PTI leaders, including MPA Zarnab Sher Sahi, were similarly targeted.
In response to these actions, PTI members have accused the government of using intimidation tactics to suppress political dissent. A statement from PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqqas Akram criticised what he described as a “reign of terror” by authorities aimed at maintaining control.
In Bahawalpur, PTI members, including South Punjab President Senator Aon Abbas Bappi, organized a public walk to protest inflation and distributed informational pamphlets. Despite the police crackdown, PTI supporters in Sialkot and Rawalpindi are proceeding with plans for upcoming conventions.
Aliya Hamza Malik criticized the Punjab government’s focus on public relations over substantive economic policy, accusing them of presenting misleading economic growth statistics. She also condemned the arrest of a young woman in Sialkot allegedly for sharing a social media post critical of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, denounced the police actions, attributing them to directives from the provincial government. The PTI’s ongoing efforts to mobilize support and challenge government policies continue amidst these escalating tensions.
