Highlights

• PTI Leaders arrested from Lahore sent to different Punjab jails
• Leader and workers could be kept behind bars for 90 days under the MPO law

PTI’s Jail Bharo Tehreek, or fill the prisons movement, entered its second day on Thursday and it was PTI Peshawar’s turn to court arrests, a day after over 100 workers were arrested in Lahore.

Dozens of PTI activists converged in front of Peshawar Central Jail to court arrests. PTI official did not give a number and said ‘a large number of people’ turned up.

They were led by Pervez Khattak. However, the police showed little interest in detaining any of them.

Political activists did whatever they could do to get arrested. They raised slogans and punctured the tyres of a police prison van.

However, the police would still not arrest them.

Finally, at least ten PTI workers forcibly entered the prison. The jail guards detained them.

Police officials said they will be charged under the law. It is not clear what crime they will be charged for. Jailbreak is a crime we have heard about, but the PTI activists were arrested for “breaking into” the jail and not breaking out as is the case with most outlaws.

Barring these ten, no other PTI activist was arrested by the Peshawar police. Pervez Khattak finally told them to disperse in the afternoon.

Khattak said the workers waited for several hours to be arrested but no one was taken in.

Whenever Imran Khan gives a jail bharo call again, we will come out, he said.

Leaders sent to Punjab prisons

Meanwhile, PTI leaders arrested in Lahore on Wednesday have been sent to different jails in the Punjab province.

Shah Mahmood Khattak has been moved to the notorious Attack Prison, where Nawaz Sharif was held in 1999 after the coup.

Qureshi’s son Zain Qureshi has moved the Lahore High Court for his release.

Azam Swati is in Rahim Yar Khan, Murad Ras in DG Khan, Senator Walid Iqbal Layyah, and Umar Sarfraz Cheema In Bhakkar, while Mohammad Madni was sent to Bahawalpur jail.

At least 77 workers are kept in Lahore’s Kot Lakhtpat Jail, but 25 others have been sent to Rajanpur and 24 to Bhakkar.

Sources say PTI leaders and workers could be kept behind bars for up to 90 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.