PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Shah Mahmood Qureshi have urged PTI workers to remain peaceful. In separate statements on Wednesday, they disavowed mob attacks directed at properties, especially those linked with the military.

Fawad Chaudhry said that there were attempts to label the PTI as a militant organization. “I call on workers to remain peaceful and foil the conspiracy to pitch people against the military,” he said in a tweet.

Shah Mahmood said that protests would take place across the country and called on the people to remain peaceful.

“Peaceful protest is your constitutional right, keep it going. But don’t take the law into your own hands,” he said while speaking to the media in Islamabad.

Qureshi said that the government is looking for excuses to register fake cases against the protestors. “They are looking for excuses to pressure you. Don’t give them the chance.” Since yesterday he had been calling on protesters to remain peaceful while protesting.

Qureshi went on to add that the country is suffering from an economic crisis and they could not get an agreement with the IMF. The people are worried about inflation, in these circumstances, there is no justification for this repression.

The PTI leader further said that Imran Khan’s injured leg was hit with sticks.

He said that a meeting of party leaders has been called this evening, where a six-member committee will consult on the situation. “I will try to meet Imran Khan.”

On the other hand, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar termed Imran Khan’s arrest ‘illegal’. Warrants and arrest documents have not been given to lawyers, he said.

He said that the decision to arrest Imran Khan will be challenged. He asked why the media has been prevented from entering the police lines.

Asad Umar further said that some wrong work is being done through conspiracy and the debris is being thrown on PTI. The charges against Imran Khan should also be investigated.

Earlier in a tweet, he said that the party’s senior leadership is in Islamabad and is “fighting” to meet Imran Khan.

He claimed that after the arrest of Imran Khan and Ali Zaidi, PTI protestors were fired upon indiscriminately. The authorities also used water cannon with chemical water.

“Let me make it very clear, we will never succumb to these dark forces, and will always fight for Jinnah’s Pakistan,” he concluded.