Jamaat-e-Islami has accused authorities of a severe crackdown on its members in various cities ahead of a planned sit-in in Islamabad.
The party, which is set to hold a three-day protest starting July 26 against rising inflation, claims that police have targeted its leaders and activists in a bid to disrupt the demonstration.
According to Jamaat-e-Islami, there have been numerous incidents of police raids, arrests, and mistreatment of women.
Secretary General Ameer-ul-Azeem reported that raids were conducted on the homes of key party figures, including Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore Amir Ziauddin Ansari.
Narowal and Hassan Abdal
The party alleges that former District Amir Anwar Haq Butt from Narowal, Tehsil Amir Altaf Hussain from Hasan Abdal, and other officials have been detained. In Bahawalpur, ten workers were reportedly arrested in Khairpur Tamiwali, and similar actions were reported in Sahiwal, where local leaders’ homes were raided.
Gujranwala
In Gujranwala, the police surrounded the residence of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Furqan Aziz Butt, though he was not present. In Wahari, seven participants preparing for the sit-in were arrested, causing many workers to go into hiding.
Sambarial
Sambarial saw the arrest of Deputy District Amir Muhammad Owais Ghaman and Mian Imran Akhtar, who had just returned from Umrah. Sargodha’s Jamaat-e-Islami reported that their central office was raided, and arrests were made.
Dunyapur
Dunyapur’s Jamaat-e-Islami convoy, led by Shakeel Ahmed, is set to participate in the sit-in despite the arrest of their Tehsil Ameer Hafiz Khurshid Ahmad.
Bahawalpur
In Bahawalpur, the party claimed ten workers from Khairpur Tamiwali were arrested. Reports from Sahiwal indicate that local leaders’ homes were also targeted.
Gujranwala
In Gujranwala, police raided the house of JI candidate Furqan Aziz Butt in PP 64. Despite a heavy police presence, Butt was not found at his residence.
Vehari
Vehari saw the arrest of seven individuals who were heading to the Islamabad sit-in, with many workers reportedly going into hiding due to the increased risk of further arrests.
Sargodha
In Sargodha, the police raided the central office of Jamaat-e-Islami, arresting one worker and continuing their operations at tehsil offices.
Ameer-ul-Azeem’s video message
Ameer-ul-Azeem condemned the police’s actions in a video message, criticizing the government for its "unconstitutional and undemocratic" behavior.
He affirmed that Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-in will proceed as planned, with Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman leading the protest. He described the imposition of Section 144 as an indication of government negligence.
Security plan
As Islamabad is set for a fresh wave of protests and sit-ins as both Jamaat-e-Islami and Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have announced plans to stage demonstrations following Friday prayers, the Islamabad administration and federal police have devised a comprehensive security plan to manage the situation.
The plan includes sealing off three main intersections in the red zone—D Chowk, Nadra Chowk, and Sarina Chowk—to prevent disruptions.
In preparation for the demonstrations, the Islamabad administration and federal police have implemented a robust security plan. Key intersections in the red zone, including D Chowk, Nadra Chowk, and Sarina Chowk, will be sealed to manage the crowds and ensure public safety.
