More than 20 PTI supporters, including lawmakers Latif Khosa and Salman Akram Raja, were arrested by police in Lahore on Sunday as Imran Khan’s party protested against alleged vote rigging elections in different cities.

Shahbaz Khosa confirmed to media that the Cantt superintendent of police arrested his father Latif Khosa before the protest.

Moreover, police arrested Salman Akram Raja from Ichhra. Later, they also arrested Mehmoodur Rashid’s son Haasan Mehmood from Shadman Town.

MPA Haroon Akbar, the brother of Akram Usman, was also detained from Ichhra. Police also arrested Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen leader Zaheer Abbas Naqvi.

Police contingents were deployed in major cities, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi, to ensure “law and order” after the PTI announced its decision to hold demonstrations.

PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat led the party’s processions in the twin cities. A large number of the party’s supporters gathered outside the Islamabad Press Club.

The federal capital police have maintained that the gathering of more than five people under Section 144 of the CrPC was banned in Islamabad, reiterating that legal action would be taken against illegal gatherings.

According to Khan’s strategy, a large number of lawyers has joined the party after several leaders of the party quit the PTI following arrests and investigations into the May 9 events.

The PTI’s protest at the Dawood Chowrangi in Karachi culminated by 5pm.

‘Mafia has been imposed on us’

PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen told supporters that a “mafia” has been imposed on the country. He described the PML-N and the PPP – two major parties of the ruling alliance – as “mafias” who allegedly wanted to launder the people’s money.

He claimed that “illegal MNAs” were being brought up while accusing the Election Commission of Pakistan of playing the role of “facilitator” in this process.

Without presenting proof, he accused the two parties of looting the people. Like his party leader Khan, he vowed to protect the rights of the people.

“Our struggle will continue until our PTI founder comes out,” he said while talking about incarcerated former prime minister Khan.

PTI Senator Faisal Javed hailed Pakistan as one of the biggest leaders of the country, saying that Imran Khan was the only leader after the founder of Pakistan Quad-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

While addressing supporters of the party in Peshawar, he demanded that the former prime minister and all party leaders be released.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur claimed that there was foreign interference in the internal matters of the country, alleging that all the conspiracies would soon be hatched.

He said that the PTI founder should be given a fair trial and an investigation commission should be formed on the cypher case. Gandapur demanded that the chief justice of Pakistan should form a judicial commission on the case related to the diplomatic cable.

He further demanded that the reserved seats of the party, which were allocated to other political parties after the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision, should be given them back.

Protest to remain peaceful: Gandapur

Speaking to the media from the rally site on the eve of the protest, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said that the party’s protest would remain peaceful.

He recounted the party’s complaint against pre-poll and poll day rigging, adding that even foreign observers had not accepted the results of the elections.

Gandapur also reiterated the party’s demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja.

The KP CM added that he would not attend the oath-taking ceremony of the president. He had also skipped the oath-taking ceremony for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

In Lahore, a heavy contingent of police arrived at the Liberty Chowk ahead of the planned PTI protest. The police also brought three prison vans.

Protests have also been planned for Lahori Gate in Wazirabad, Gondalanwala Adda in Gujranwala, Clock Tower in Faisalabad and Khanapul Road in Rawalpindi.