In a televised address, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan claimed that he was shocked to see the establishment was still supporting his rivals, adding that he would continue to challenge those who orchestrated his ouster.
Following the arrest of PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, hundreds of PTI supporters gathered outside the home to thwart a potential attempt to arrest the PTI chairman.
PTI leaders and followers gathered at Zaman Park to support their leader as soon as word of the former premier’s potential arrest reached party members. Fawad Chaudhry visited Zaman Park on Wednesday around 4 a.m. because of rumors that Imran Khan would soon be arrested. Fawad Chaudhry was later taken into custody after being taken from his home.
Around two in the morning on Wednesday, workers began to arrive at Zaman Park, and they stayed there all day. As the crowd grew throughout the day, not even Lahore’s chilly weather and a drizzle could dampen their spirits.
Wednesday night, PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi renewed his appeal to lawmakers and party members in support of Imran Khan. In a tweet, he urged former PTI lawmakers and supporters to get to Zaman Park right away.
The supporters, who kept busy with chants and halwa pooris, also vented their resentment at interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, whom they held responsible for the recent crackdown on the former ruling party. Like this, pro-Khan chants could be heard all day long in Zaman Park.
The demonstration against the alleged plans to arrest Mr. Khan became popular on social media, particularly Twitter, which continued to be one of the top trends.
The gathering also gave PTI leaders a chance to engage in sporadic media interviews to demonstrate their unwavering dedication to Mr. Khan’s cause.
Speaking to reporters outside Zaman Park, PTI Punjab Central President Dr. Yasmin Rashid criticized the arrest of Fawad Chaudhry and vowed that party leaders, workers, and the general public would not remain silent in the face of the government’s sleaze.
She argued that the incumbent government’s harsh measures “will not be able to divert PTI’s attention from its demand for free and fair elections.”.