PTI supporters protest Imran's arrest in various cities

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers took to the streets on Tuesday after the party leadership's call for nationwide protests against the arrest of party chief Imran Khan by Rangers personnel from the Islamabad Judicial Complex. The former premier was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case, added the federal capital's top cop. "Situation is normal. Section 144 is in place and violations will result in police action," said IG Islamabad. Islamabad High Court (IHC) CJ Aamer Farooq took notice of the incident and summoned IG Islamabad, secretary interior, and the additional attorney general. Meanwhile, party leaders urged PTI workers and supporters to take to the streets in protest. Senior party leader Fawad Chaudhry urged the people to come out of their homes as he termed the arrest "an attack" on the IHC. عوام گھروں سے باہر نکلیں، اسلام آباد ہائیکورٹ پر حملہ کیا گیا ہے عمران خان کی گرفتاری عدلیہ کو بند کرنے کے مترادف ہے — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 9, 2023 "Imran Khan's arrest is equivalent to shutting down the judiciary," he said. In a video message, Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Imran Khan would become a "hero" because of the government's "hooliganism". He said that the PTI chief was at risk of being "slow-poisoned" in detention because the government cannot face him alive. Imp video msg on Imran Khan arrest pic.twitter.com/ZMnwmO0dzn — Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) May 9, 2023 He said that elections will take place in the country no matter what cost, and that "these 13 parties would be buried alive" as Imran Khan will emerge victorious again. PTI leader Fasail Javed Khan shared a video message on Twitter saying that Imran Khan's illegal arrest was "unacceptable" to the courts and the people. "Imran Khan arrested illegally. Appeal to the Judiciary to take action against those who arrested him. This is not acceptable to the people of Pakistan," he tweeted. Imran Khan arrested illegally. Appeal to the Judiciary to take action against those who arrested him. This is not acceptable to the people of Pakistan. #ImranKhanArrest pic.twitter.com/XxMd7DQYg3 — Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) May 9, 2023 In another video, the Imran Khan's sister said that the PTI chairman had been "kidnapped", and urged Pakistanis to come out in support of the former prime minister. Imran Khan sister says he has been kidnapped pic.twitter.com/ePXG8Y6Y2U — Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) May 9, 2023 Meanwhile, on the call of the PTI leadership, the workers started protesting in various cities. Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse Khan supporters in Karachi and Lahore, while protesters blocked roads in the capital Islamabad, neighbouring Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. In several cities in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the workers blocked the roads, causing difficulty for the citizens. Workers from the PTI's Karachi chapter also gathered around Insaf House on Sharea Faisal to record their protest, and blocked traffic. Read Imran asks ISPR to 'listen carefully' as he calls out senior military official again The blockage caused long ques on the road, and bitter exchanges by frustrated commuters and PTI workers were also reported. Video footage showed police resorting to tear gas shelling to disburse the protests. Lawyers also protested at the GPO Chawk in Lahore against the arrest having taken place on court premises. احتجاجی مظاہروں کے باعث ذیل سڑکیں بھی ٹریفک کے لیے بند ہیں۔ آئی جی چوک کینال مال پل کی طرف مغل پورہ مال پل کی طرف دھرم پورہ کینال پل کینال مال پل کی طرف سندرداس چوک ٹھنڈی سڑک کی طرف مزید اپ ڈیٹس کے لیے 15 پر کال کریں یا اپنے موبائل پر RASTA APP ڈاؤن لوڈ کریں۔ https://t.co/fAv3ouyLWN — City Traffic Police Lahore (@ctplahore) May 9, 2023 احتجاج کے باعث درج ذیل مقامات ٹریفک کے لیے بند ہیں۔ براہ کرم متبادل راستوں کی کہانی کریں۔ کینال مال پل مغل پورہ کی طرف کینال جیل پل لبرٹی R/O صدیق ٹریڈ سینٹر کی طرف جی پی او چوک اکبر چوک مزید اپ ڈیٹس کے لیے 15 پر کال کریں یا اپنے موبائل پر RASTA APP ڈاؤن لوڈ کریں۔ — City Traffic Police Lahore (@ctplahore) May 9, 2023 The traffic police have said that the following roads are blocked; Canal-Mall Bridge towards Mughalpura, Canal-Prison Bridge towards Mughalpura, Liberty R/O Siddique Trade Centre, GPO Chowk, Akbar Chowk, Dharmapura-Canal Bridge to Canal-Mall Bridge and Dharmapura Canal Bridge to Canal Mall Bridge near Zaman Park. Islamabad Police Traffic Alert ! Due to protest, diversions placed for traffic between Koral and Khanna Stops of Islamabad Expressway. Alternatively, Lehtrar Road and Peshawar Road can be used. Faizabad all sides closed for traffic going towards Murree Road Rawalpindi and IJP… — Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) May 9, 2023 Meanwhile, the Islamabad police have issued a traffic alert for blockages between the Koral and Khanna Stops of the Islamabad Expressway. Furthermore, for Faizabad all sides are closed for traffic going towards Murree Road, Rawalpindi and IJP from the Islamabad side. Using social media, several people shared visuals of the PTI chairman's arrest by Rangers personnel from the Islamabad Judicial Complex. گرفتاری کے مناظر! pic.twitter.com/sj33fJ4D87 — Dr Shahid Masood (@Shahidmasooddr) May 9, 2023 Prominent TV anchor Dr Shahid Masood tweeted a video clip of the being pushed into a black vehicle by a large number of paramilitary personnel. Video: PTI chief Imran Khan arrested in Al-Qadir Trust case pic.twitter.com/D0N7slDZeW — Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) May 9, 2023 TV reporter Murtaza Ali Shah tweeted a video clip of Imran Khan sitting behind a glass wall at the judicial complex as Rangers personnel tried to force their way inside to detain him. The journalist shared another video of scenes at the judicial complex showing Imran Khan's wheelchair. Imran Khan’s wheelchair pic.twitter.com/5lgs8WO8QA — Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) May 9, 2023 Senior PTI leader Shireen Mazari also shared a clip of the paramilitary personnel breaking the glass windows of the complex to get to the PTI chief. State terrorism - breaking into IHC premises to abduct Imran Khan from court premises. Law of the jungle in operation. Rangers beat the lawyers, used violence on Imran Khan and abducted him. pic.twitter.com/3CJOVO2nFJ — Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) May 9, 2023 "State terrorism - breaking into IHC premises to abduct Imran Khan from court premises. Law of the jungle in operation. Rangers beat the lawyers, used violence on Imran Khan and abducted him," tweeted the senior PTI leader. TV anchor Hamid Mir shared another video clip of scenes at the judicial complex after Imran Khan's arrest, with a man describing the damages to the record room of the Islamabad High Court. This is what happened in the record room of Islamabad High Court during the arrest of ⁦@ImranKhanPTI⁩ pic.twitter.com/8slesMOPhk — Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) May 9, 2023 "This is what happened in the record room of Islamabad High Court during the arrest of ⁦@ImranKhanPTI," tweeted Mir. Another Twitter user shared a clip of what appeared to be angry PTI supporters burning posters and banners in an attempt to block the Canal Road near Imran Khan's Zaman Park residence in Lahore. Current situation at zaman park canal road #Zaman_Park #imranKhanPTI #imrankhanarrested #arrest pic.twitter.com/YPjJwqNmWD — Zohaib Saleem Butt (@Zohaibbutt) May 9, 2023 Another social media user tweeted scenes from the window of a tall building overlooking Karachi's Shahrae Faisal, with angry protestors blocking the city's main thoroughfare. تحریک انصاف کا عمران خان کی گرفتاری کیخلاف احتجاج ، شاہراہِ فیصل کو ٹریفک کیلئے بند کردیا pic.twitter.com/AxJBFTFI5Y — Faizullah Khan فیض (@FaizullahSwati) May 9, 2023 The user shared another video showing police firing what appeared to be teargas shells at protestors on the main Karachi highway. شاہراہِ فیصل پولیس کی شیلنگ تحریک انصاف کے کارکنوں کا پتھراؤ پولیس پیچھے ہٹ گئی pic.twitter.com/LVGKAKnDXF — Faizullah Khan فیض (@FaizullahSwati) May 9, 2023 Another video shared on Twitter showed a police van set ablaze allegedly by angry PTI demonstrators.  تحریکِ انصاف کے کارکنوں نے پولیس وین نذر آتش کردی pic.twitter.com/Hcqpxi7gHu — Faizullah Khan فیض (@FaizullahSwati) May 9, 2023 In Karachi, protestors pelted stones at police vehicles.  Workers pelt stones at police mobile in Karachi. #Breaking pic.twitter.com/dQDOkqt2I4 — Raftar (@raftardotcom) May 9, 2023 Meanwhile in Lahore, video clips showed a large demonstators marching near the centeal Liberty Chowk area.  لاہور کی عوام سڑکوں پر لبرٹی سے کور کمانڈر لاہور جاتے ہوئے عوام کا پیدل مارچ۔#ReleaseImranKhan #نکلو_خان_کی_زندگی_بچاؤ#ImranKhan pic.twitter.com/FpG6jPDhRu — Fauzia Siddiqui (@fozisidd) May 9, 2023 ⁩Owing to the situation, the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration has imposed section 144 in the territory, the police said on its official Twitter account. اسلام آباد میں دفعہ 144 نافذ العمل ہے۔ کسی بھی فرد فرد پر کسی بھی قسم کا تشدد نہیں کیا گیا۔ عمران خان کی گاڑی کے گرد پولیس کا حفاظتی حصار ہے۔ — Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) May 9, 2023 The Islamabad Police have warned of strict action against anti-social elements for violating Section 144 imposed in the federal capital. The police also advised the people to use alternate routes to reach their destinations. اسلام آباد میں دفعہ 144 نافذ العمل ہے۔ کسی بھی فرد فرد پر کسی بھی قسم کا تشدد نہیں کیا گیا۔ عمران خان کی گاڑی کے گرد پولیس کا حفاظتی حصار ہے۔ — Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) May 9, 2023 It said that traffic congestion was observed between Koral and Khanna Bridge Stops at the Islamabad Expressway therefore Lehtrar Road and Peshawar Road can be used alternatively. Islamabad Police Traffic Alert ! Due to protest, traffic is interrupted above the Faizabad bridge. Traffic from Faizabad towards Murree Road is diverted. Alternatively, Lehtrar Road and Peshawar Road can be used.#ICTP #TrafficUpdate — Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) May 9, 2023 Besides, traffic was also interrupted near Faizabad interchange and has been diverted towards Murree Road. For traffic interruptions near Saien Mirchu Darbar stop of Srinagar Highway, commuters can use Peshawar Road. Islamabad Police Traffic Alert ! Traffic interruptions near Saien Mirchu Darbar stop of Srinagar Highway. Alternatively, use Peshawar Road.#ICTP #TrafficUpdate — Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) May 9, 2023