In a statement on Tuesday, the PTI strongly rejected the provincial government’s tough action against Khan’s supporters and said the arrest of around 5,000 civilians under security orders was a dark chapter in Pakistan’s history. File photo of Imran Khan – Reuters
Pakistan’s Punjab provincial government has arrested around 4,800 supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been jailed since unprecedented protests began on May 9 last year, under security orders, in a move the party has described as a “dark chapter in Pakistan’s history”.
The Punjab government on Monday informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that it has arrested 4,770 “miscreants” under the Maintenance of Public Order Act (MPO) in the province since the May 9, 2023 riots and subsequently released 3,511.
After Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, was arrested in a corruption case in May last year, riots erupted in the country, with dozens of government and military sites attacked.
Law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 10,000 party members and leaders following the riots, PTI said. More than 100 PTI leaders and members have been handed over to the military to face trial in military courts.
The Punjab government, however, did not tell the court how many PTI officials had been detained on various charges of terrorism and Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for attacks on state and military installations.
The government told the LHC that it had released 3,511 of the 4,770 supporters of Imran Khan who were detained under the MPO.
Maryam Nawaz’s government in Punjab submitted its response after PTI leader Zainab Umair filed a petition challenging the “abuse of power by the provincial lieutenant governor” in detaining thousands of Khan supporters. The petitioner told the court that the government had issued “blanket” detention orders under Articles 3 and 16 of the MPO against PTI leaders and activists following the May 9 riots.
LHC Justice Muhammad Amjad Rafiq adjourned the hearing till June 28 and sought appearance of the Punjab Attorney General.
Strongly rejecting the provincial government’s strict action against Khan’s supporters, the PTI in a statement on Tuesday said the arrest of around 5,000 citizens under security orders was a dark chapter in Pakistan’s history.
PTI said atrocities and human rights violations were committed against Pakistani people under the guise of a false flag operation on May 9. “The time will come when all those involved in these atrocities will be brought to justice,” it said.
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