The Punjab Police arrested key Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders both Latif Khosa and Salman Akram Raja during the party’s protests in Lahore, the local media reported.
The PTI has held a nationwide protest against what it termed the “stolen mandate” from the election held on February 8, 2024.
Balakh Sher Khosa, son of Latif Khosa, confirmed his father’s arrest and labeled it as an “utterly deplorable and wholly intolerable” act.
Sher Afzal Marwat, a prominent party leader, took to his official social media handle to condemn the arrest, urging Punjab authorities to cease what he described as “unfair behavior.”
Marwat emphasized that peaceful protest was a fundamental right that should be respected.
Salman Akram Raja, another influential figure within PTI, was also detained by the police. Advocate Muhammad Mehr Salim was among those arrested alongside Raja.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) strongly denounced the arrests of Latif Khosa, Salman Akram Raja, and others. In response to the situation, the SCBA has decided to convene an emergency meeting of its executive body to outline the next course of action.
The developments have raised concerns about the state of political affairs, with critics pointing out the apparent infringement on the right to peaceful protest.
