LAHORE - Punjab police launched a crackdown on the PTI, PML-Q and PAT workers across the province to prevent them from leaving for Islamabad protest. Here are some reports our staff reporters, in different cities of the provice, sent regarding police action and preparations of political activists to reach the federal capital.

MULTAN

The PTI workers and police continued to play hide-and-seek throughout Monday as many, including district president, general secretary and regional coordinator of Imran Khan’s party succeeded in slipping away to Bani Gala.

About 47, two MPAs, one ex MPA, four union chairmen and many office bearers among them, were arrested from different areas, The Nation learnt.

Despite arrests, police raids at residences of workers and leaders as well as hurdles on Islamabad routes, small convoys of PTI workers kept leaving Multan and adjoining areas. The Insafians preferred to travel on their private cars in small groups instead of taking public transport or forming big convoys.

"It's an unending stream. We've worked out a comprehensive strategy with A, B and C plans. Our workers will continue to leave for Bani Gala until November 2. Arrests, threats and raids cannot deter us," said Jawad Ameen Qureshi, member PTI's provincial social media team, while talking to this scribe on his way to Islamabad.

The arrested PTI leaders included MPAs Javed Akhtar Ansari and Zaheer Uddin Allezai, former MPA Shahid Mahmood Khan, UC chairmen Sajid Nawaz Khokhar, Saleem Ullah Khan, Shahbaz Qureshi and Usman Damra, ticket holder Shakir Baloch as well as over three dozen workers. They were kept in different police stations of Multan. Similarly, Haveli Koranga police arrested PTI women wing Multan leader Qurban Fatima, Sheikh Tahir, Farooq Ahmad, district president Muzaffargarh Nawabzada Ahmad Khan, district president Bahawalpur Asghar Joiya and their companions, who were moved to Khanewal.

However, PTI Multan district president Ijaz Janjua, general secretary Aun Abbas Bappi, zonal coordinator Khalid Javed Warraich, Javed Laghari, Asifa Saleem, Ashraf Nasir, Dr Rubina succeeded to avert police traps and reached Bani Gala despite all hurdles.

PTI sources revealed that MNA Malik Aamir Dogar, UC Chairman Adnan Dogar, city president Dr Khalid Khakwani, city general secretary Nadeem Qureshi and many other leaders were on way to Bani Gala along with their companions and they had crossed Kabirwala area till filing of this report.

Some other police parties also raided the houses of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leaders. PAT district president Maj (r) Muhammad Iqbal Chughtai told media that police conducted raid at his house, Rao Arif Rizvi's residence and many other leaders' homes.

Reports received from surroundings of Multan disclosed that police took dozens of containers into custody. The containers were placed at Chanab bridge, Khanewal Road, Qadirpur Rawan, Pul Rango, Mian Channu, Jahanian and on the roads leading to Islamabad.

MUZAFFARGARH

Muzaffargarh district administration and police have blocked five exit and entrance points of the district by placing containers on all major roads to prevent PTI activists from participating in the November 2 Islamabad lockdown.

Heavy police contingent was seen at different roads and exit point of the district, checking public transport vehicles and even private cars.

The district administration with the help of police has also started impounding public transport vehicles.

The PTI office bearers alleged that dozens of passenger vans and buses have been impounded by the administration so far.

They alleged that the police have tortured the party workers and are using all official resources to stop them but "we would reach Islamabad come what may.

The five points blocked by the district administration with containers include: Head Punjnad,Ali pur,Head Muhammad Wala, Tunsa Bearage, Ghazi Gate put and Chanab Pul Multan road.

PTI local leaders including Nawab zada Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Nadeem Kaloon,Arshad Qalandarmi  and others claimed that PTI workers are moving towards Islamabad despite different hurdles created by the government.

KASUR

According to the PTI sources, the police have set up pickets at all the exit points of the city and have blocked Ferozpur Road near Mustafabad by placing containers.

The police are conducting raids on workers' houses and also tracing them by phone calls, the sources said, revealing that PTI office bearers Nadeem Haroon Khan, Shahid Masood Khan, Sardar Fakhir Ali, Sardar Hussain Dogar, Farooq Ahmed Ansari, Robina Ansari, Sheikh Ayub Qaiser, Ch Imran Zeb, Hassan Ali Khan and Maqbool Ansari escaped the arrest as they had left Kasur before the operation.

The police, however, arrested PML-Q MPA Sardar Waqas Hassan Moakal, PTI UC Fatehpur chairman and others including Abid Jamal Thokar from Khuddian, Sardar Khalid Dogar from Theng Shah, Muhammad Naeem from Pattoki, Khan Wali from Kanganpur, Rana Iqbal from Chunian and Asif Chaudhry from Kot Radha Kishan.

HAFIZABAD

The district police have arrested nine activists of PTI from the district under 3 MPO and sent them to the district jail for 15 days.

Those arrested are: Abdul Rauf alias Haq Nawaz, Muhammad Afzal son of Manak, Muhammad Yaseen son of Abdul Sattar residence of Thatha Gahra, Muhammad Ashraf son of Khan, Shabbar son of Aftab residence of Kolo Tarar, Abdul Rehman residence of Rasulpur Tarar, Nasir Jamal son of Abdul Razzaq residence of Soolangin Awan, Muhammad Ashraf, Afzal Tarar son of Muhammad Sharif Tarar residence of vanike Tarar.

 

BUREWALA

The circle police arrested 26 workers of PTI during a crackdown last night.

Those arrested included Shakil Hashmat, Shafaqat Ali, Naveed Saeed, Muhammad Saeed, Yasir Majid, Muhammad Ijaz, Ali Raza, Farhan, Muhammad  Imran, Salman, Zeeshan, Muhammad Sajid, Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Ashraf, Toqeer Iqbal, Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Muslim, Muhammad Sabioor, Naveed Asla, Nadeem Aslam, Muhammad Shahid, Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Ashiq, Nazir Ahmad And Nazir Ahmad of Dad Jamlera. Police after arresting the workers have shifted them to unknown place.

 

SHEIKHUPURA

In an ongoing crackdown the police rounded up as many as 88 PTI workers.

However key leaders including Saeed Virk, Kanwar Imran saeed, sardar Asif Dogar, Mian Shafiq Ashrafi, Shahzad Cheema, Shafqat Kujjar, Faiz Rasool Gujjar and some others have already reached Islamabad after traveling on different secrete routes. The law enforcing agencies crackdown against the PTI workers is still in process.

In Nankana district the police booked 30 PTI activists.

RAHIM YAR KHAN

Two workers of PTI were arrested by police here. But all main leaders managed to escape. Police raided all PTI activists throughout the district but only one Haroonur Rasheed was arrested. Former district President PTI Rana Raheel’s house was also raided.

FAISALABAD

More than 40 political activists were arrested by police here in Faisalabad during past 24 hours. Police conducted raids at the houses and deras of PTI and Sunni Ittehad council office-bearers and workers but failed to achieve its set target as majority of the political activists had already left for Islamabad.

A source said district police launched a crackdown against PTI and Sunni Ittehad council to stop political workers from joining November 2 PTI protest. Police also conducted a raid at the house of PTI member Punjab assembly Khurram Shahzad but he had already gone to Islamabad a day before. PTI city body have seriously protested against the raids.

PTI sources confirmed that PTI PP-62 president Khalid Rafi Cheema who was arrested by police was sent to Vehari jail along with 22 other workers of PTI. Police also conducted a raid at the house of their divisional president at Gujjar Basti Faisalabad and arrested two of their party workers. Hamid Raza mentioned that their party Punjab president Umar Saeed was arrested by Punjab police from Mandi Bahudin. He added that Hamid Bharwana president of Bhawana was also arrested by Punjab police. At Sultanpur, police arrested two Sunni Ittehad council office-bearers.

SAHIWAL

As many as 68 political workers of PTI arrested by police were shifted to Central Jail Sahiwal. The arrested political workers are from Sheikhupura, Mandi Bahauddin and Kasur districts. These political workers were detained under 3 MPO for one month.

GUJRANWALA

Gujranwala police launched a crackdown on PTI, PAT and PML-Q workers in different areas of the district and arrested about two dozen activists including Dr Zafar Chaudhry.

According to lists prepared by law enforcement agencies, 480 activists of the said parties have been marked. Police and administration have also closed all major roads for traffic by placing containers. Rawalpindi Bypass, Chanda Qila, Awan Chowk, Khiali Bypass, Sialkot Bypass and other major points have been blocked by the administration and police, which has also disturbed the routine life of the citizens.

Police have focused on all entry and exit points of the city specially on bus stands. Several checkpoints have also been set up on all the main roads of the district where policemen are busy checking the buses and arresting the activists. Police are also conducting raids on the houses of leaders of the three parties.

SIALKOT

Police have arrested as many as 42 PTI activists from Sialkot district after raiding their houses and offices. No local  prominent PTI leaders was arrested here today by police, as the leaders were not found during the police raids at their houses in Sialkot district here today.

The police conducted raids at the houses and offices of the local PTI leaders and workers in Sialkot,Daska, Sambrial, Pasrur and surrounding areas to arrest them, but most of the PTI workers and local leaders have gone underground or reached Islamabad.

Police also set up pickets at all the entry and exit points of Sialkot district by parking small and big containers there.

However, dozens of PTI workers continued their their march towards Islamabad by crossing all the hurdles.