PTI Chairman Imran Khan has posted on Twitter a video montage of alleged police brutality on his Azadi marchers on May 25 and termed it “condemnable and unacceptable”.
Imran Khan’s march for haqeeqi azadi — true freedom — was preceded by the authorities invoking of Section 144, a measure used to curb gatherings.
Shipping containers were put in place on major thoroughfares to block their path. Undeterred by the moves, the marchers, who tried to force through the containers to make their way to Islamabad, were met with tear gas as police tried to disperse them. Police also charged at them with batons. “Condemnable and unacceptable,” the former prime minister said on Sunday.
“Flouting the Constitution and Supreme Court orders, this criminal imported government unleashed police brutality on our peaceful Azadi March protesters.”
The night before the march, there were subsequent police raids on PTI leaders’ residences. “Night before our march, Punjab and Sindh police violated PTI members’ homes, harassing the families,” he added.
In one such raid carried out on the eve of the march, a policeman was killed. The party and the coalition government blamed each other.
The march ended on March 26 without a sit-in at D-Chowk, which Imran promised would occur until dates for elections are announced. In a speech to supporters just short of D-Chowk, Imran told the government to announce dates for the elections, failing which he would return in six days.
