ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday strongly condemned the raids on houses of the party leaders in Punjab, Islamabad and Karachi, saying a peaceful protest was the right of all citizens.
Police raided homes of various PTI leaders and workers in late Monday night action as the opposition party set to begin long march on the federal capital on May 25.
Taking to Twitter, the PTI chief said: “Peaceful protest is the right of all our citizens. The brutal crackdown on PTI leaders and workers in Punjab & Islamabad has once again shown us what we are familiar with – the fascist nature of PMLN when in power.
He further said that the present crackdown also raises serious questions about the “handlers”.
Already economy is in a tailspin. I want to warn the crooks & their handlers that these undemocratic & fascist steps will further exacerbate the economic situation & push the country into a state of anarchy.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 23, 2022
Imran Khan said his government never stopped PPP, PML-N and JUI marches and neither launched crackdown on their workers. “This is the difference between democrats and kleptocrats,” he added.
Read more: Police crackdown on PTI leaders, workers ahead of Azaadi March
PPP, PMLN and JUI Marches against our govt were never stopped nor did we carry out any crackdown on their workers. This is the difference between democrats and kleptocrats.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 23, 2022
The former PM said: “Already economy is in a tailspin. I want to warn the crooks & their handlers that these undemocratic and fascist steps will further exacerbate the economic situation & push the country into a state of anarchy”.
Police crackdown
Police on late Monday night launched a crackdown against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership across Punjab ahead of “Azadi March” set to being on May 25 (tomorrow).
The raids were conducted at houses of different PTI leaders including former energy minister Hammad Azhar, Usman Dar, and Babar Awan, Senator Waleed Iqbal, Firdous Ashiq Awan and others.
The development comes hours after PTI’s Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry, in a press conference, warned the government against using force to stop the “Azadi March”, set to begin on May 25.
Raids were also conducted in Lahore, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Daska, Jaranwala, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Narowal, Kamalia, Pir Mahal, Rajanpur, Vehari, Khanpur, Sahiwal, Kabirwala, Sheikhupura, Mian Channo, Wazirabad and others areas for the arrest of PTI leaders and workers.
 Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday strongly condemned police crackdown on party leaders){kind=link}