Local Punjab gov in Pakistan call on PTI to hand over protesters

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Agency
17 May 19:05

The Punjab information minister revealed that 30 to 40 of those who attacked the military site are hiding in Zaman Park in Punjab.

Supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan block a road as police fire tear gas shell to disperse them during a protest against the arrest of their leader, in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, May 9, 2023 (AP Photo/Fareed Khan, File)

The local government of the Punjab province called on the Pakistani opposition party PTI to turn in the "terrorists" who organized attacks against military sites during the mass demonstrations last week protesting the arrest of Imran Khan, the Punjab Caretaker Information Minister.

"Hand over the terrorists within 24 hours or the law will take its course," the minister was quoted as saying by Pakistani broadcaster Ary News.

The minister said that 30 to 40 of those who attacked the military site are hiding in Zaman Park in Punjab.

The crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition party shows no sign of let-up as senior officials, Shehryar Afridi and Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan, were detained on Tuesday in relation to the nationwide demonstrations that broke out last week, Pakistani broadcaster ARY News reported, citing the police.

Afridi was detained in Islamabad under the law on the maintenance of public order, as per media reports. He had previously served as the country's minister of states and frontier regions, as well as the head of the Narcotics Control Ministry.

Concurrently, the arrest of Khan's media advisor Chohan took place in the Pakistani province of Punjab, as per ARY News.

This comes as nearly 1,000 people have been detained in Punjab since protests broke out following the arrest of former Prime Minister and opposition leader Imran Khan.

Earlier today Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the police were surrounding his residence.