The Punjab police arrested PTI leader Salman Akram Raja and several women protesters on Saturday in Lahore as supporters of the party gathered in the city for the protest against alleged election rigging.

“They are illegally arresting me. I am with the people and we will continue to raise voices for justice,” he said as police whisked him away from the area.

He was among eight PTI workers arrested by the police from outside the PTI office in the city. The party called off the protest in the city after the arrest.

There were reports that women supporters of PTI were also arrested by police. Aaj News correspondents cited that it was a peaceful protest.

A heavy contingent of police was deployed in Islamabad and Lahore ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s protest against alleged rigging in elections on Saturday.

“To ensure the establishment of public order and enforcement of Section 144 in Islamabad, the Islamabad Capital Police are performing their duties throughout the city,” the federal capital police have said in a post on X.

The PTI has given a protest call to its supporters on Friday and in different social media posts mentioned the locations of the protest.

Independent candidates backed by the PTI have secured maximum number of the National Assembly seats, according to the provisional results of the Election Commission of Pakistan. But the party believes that the elections were rigged as more than 80 seats were stolen from the party.

While sharing the videos of different streets, police warned the people against participating in any illegal activity.

Islamabad

Supporters of PTI started arriving at the F9 Park. From here, the protesters are planned to march towards the press club.

Police have also brought a prison van to the site of the protest. Aaj News correspondent confirmed that trenches were dug at the vacant ground where the party was scheduled to protest.

Trenches dug opposite press club in Islamabad

Trenches have been dug opposite the National Press Club in Islamabad ahead of the PTI protest against alleged rigging in general elections on Saturday, the party has claimed.

“Just a reminder, he who digs a pit for others falls in himself. Soon we will see all the oppressors, puppets falling into that pit. InshAllah,” the party’s Islamabad chapter said in a post on X.

The PTI has announced the locations in Punjab for its protest against alleged rigging in the general elections.

The site outside the press club is one of the locations where it would be holding a protest against alleged rigging in the Feb 8 polls.

The X account also shared a video of the purported trenches.

In a post on X on Saturday, the PTI said the protests would be held at F9 Park in the Rawalpindi district, outside the ECP office in Jhelum, outside the press club in Chakwal and at Attock’s Fawara Chowk.

Other locations include the district commissioner’s office in Khushab, Sargodha’s Qainchi Mor, Mianwali’s Rokhri Mor and Zame Wala Tehsil in Bhakkar.

Section 144 imposed in Islamabad

Meanwhile, the Islamabad police in a statement said that public gathering was banned in the federal capital as Section 144 of the CrPC was in force in the city.

“The security is on high alert,” it said

Without mentioning the protests, police said that there could be increased traffic near the F9 park and urged the public to avoid “unnecessary travel” on the nearby routes.

Special forces of the Counter Terrorism Department had been deployed on patrol to deal with any emergency.

“Patrolling has been increased across the district while checking has been tightened at checkpoints,” it added.

Qaiser’s protest call

On Friday, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said that his party does not accept the February 8 polls and called for countrywide protests.

“There should be stability in the country after elections,” he told reporters in Islamabad. “Instability is increasing in the country after elections.”

He was speaking to journalists after meeting Jamaat-e-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch.

Qaiser demanded the right of free and fair elections. “We don’t accept elections and we will protest across the country tomorrow.

Baloch stated that the party would decide in its majlis-e-shoora meeting.