ISLAMABAD: Rawalpindi’s deputy commissioner on Friday ordered the authorities concerned to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed.
Police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) surrounded the residences of Imran Khan in Islamabad and AML chief Sheikh Rasheed in Rawalpindi in the wee hours of Friday.
Police had earlier sealed Lal Haveli, an old building in downtown Bohar Bazaar that serves as AML's political office, by placing containers in front of its main entrance ahead of a public meeting of the PTI.
While responding to the govt’s move of sealing his residence, Sheikh Rasheed, said that the public gathering would take place as usual. He hinted at the possibility of Imran Khan arriving at his residence through helicopter.
The federal government has imposed Section 144 in the twin cities which bars public gatherings and the use of loudspeakers. But Rasheed has vowed to violate the ban on his public gathering scheduled for Friday. “I will tear apart Section 144 into 144 pieces,” he said.
On late Thursday night, police arrested two political workers of AML from outside Lal Haveli.
Reports claimed that at least 40 police vans were outside Rasheed’s residence. However, the AML chief said that the public meeting will be held on Friday. He said, “Gullu Butts of the Police are outside Lal Haveli”.
Earlier on Thursday, there was a police crackdown during a convention of the PTI’s youth wing in Islamabad.
PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said several party activists, including woman, were baton charged and arrested at the youth convention.