A large number of PTI workers staged sit-in at the Chairing Cross in front of Punjab Assembly against the alleged rigging during by-elections on Saturday which was postponed till Monday.
Earlier, Police arrested several leaders and activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as the party staged a sit-in protest outside the Punjab Assembly (PA) against alleged rigging in the elections. A police squad was already present. The PTI workers were told to disperse and were arrested for their refusal for violation of a ban on public rallies on the Mall. The arrested workers included PTI Punjab President Aijaz Choudhry, Opposition Leader Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, Andleeb Abbas and several others including the female workers. Aijaz Choudhry said that the party would stage stronger protests if the Punjab government stopped it to do so.
Opposition leader in the provincial assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rashid condemned the arrests as oppressive and undemocratic. He said the PTI would continue to protest against rigging in elections and expand the protest.
Imran Khan said 'Punjab government unleashed civilian dictatorial measures against PTI's democratic right to protest against electoral rigging'. Jamat E Islami (JI) leader Liaqat Baloch also criticized the Punjab government.
They were released fairly quickly after Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif issued an order in this regard. Most of them responded by returning to the Mall.
