PTI Azadi March: Imran sets out to lead party caravan, tensions escalate

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Azadi March began on Wednesday, tensions rose across the country as police made use of tear gas and arrested several PTI marchers headed toward Islamabad.

Khan’s message for PTI supporters

PTI Chairperson Imran Khan called on his supporters to join his freedom march.

In a video message, Khan said, “I will lead the Azadi March caravan from Peshawar, and God willing, we will head to Islamabad from there. I want each and everyone to leave because this is a defining moment.”

My message for the people of KP pic.twitter.com/pplWbtgb0M

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 25, 2022

Khan waves to supporters from a truck

Imran Khan arrived at the Wali Interchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by helicopter.

عمران خان @ImranKhanPTI ہیلی کاپٹر کے زرئعے پشاور کے ولی انٹر چینج پہچ گے #حقیقی_آذادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/8u2pUlBiuh

— Azam Malik (@azammaalik) May 25, 2022

عمران خان ہیلی کاپٹر پر پشاور سے روانہ ۔۔۔

جبکہ PTI کارکنان جو چند نکلے ہیں وہ سڑکوں پر خوار ہو رہے، پولیس کا سامنا کر رہے، لاٹھیاں، آنسو گیس شیلنگ کا سامنا کر رہے ۔۔۔ pic.twitter.com/FmPiKmbC4Z

— Gharidah Farooqi (T.I.) (@GFarooqi) May 25, 2022

Khan, later, departed for Islamabad from the Wali Interchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan, your Kaptaan is leading from the front. The Azadi Container is moving from the Wali Interchange towards Swabi. #حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ#PakistanUnderFascism pic.twitter.com/rOCHenPE7A

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 25, 2022

Imran khan is back.#LongMarch #ImranKhanPrimeMinister #PakistanUnderFascism pic.twitter.com/gtGgeiUfFo

— Haris Khan (@HarisKhan148197) May 25, 2022

‘Defining moment’ for Pakistan

Imran also urged protesters to carry the Pakistani flag, calling today a “defining moment” for Pakistan.

Would urge everyone to carry the Pakistan flag with them. This is a defining moment today for the Haqiqi Azaadi of Pakistan.#حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/RXUPKFyYgQ

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 25, 2022

‘No blockade can stop us’

After reaching Swabi, Khan delivered a speech to supporters. In it, he said that “we are going to D-Chowk and no one can stop us” as the crowd cheered.

Khan said that the PTI government did not bar any of them from staging protests as they “did not fear the people”.

ہم نے ہمیشہ پرامن احتجاج کیا ہے میں عدالتوں سے بھی کہتا ہوں کہ یہ امپورٹڈ حکومت کس قانون کے تحت عوام کو روک رہی ہے؟ آج پوری قوم کو حقیقی آزادی کے لیے باہر نکلنا ہے۔ چیئرمین عمران خان

#حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/1KRR18hhAA

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 25, 2022

He said that the government was afraid as they had been plundering national wealth for the past 30 years. “I want to give the people a message from Swabi Interchange: whatever you do, we will cross all obstacles and reach D-Chowk. Our protest will be peaceful as it has always been.”

“I want to give the people a message from Swabi Interchange: whatever you do, we will cross all obstacles and reach D-Chowk. Our protest will be peaceful as it has always been.”

 “This nation does not accept this imported government,” he declared, calling on the people to come out for what he has described of late as a “jihad” for “true freedom”.

“All Pakistanis, women, children, families, youth, lawyers, retired army officers, everyone has to come out for real independence,” he said.

No agreement has been reached

Following the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the two sides have agreed on PTI holding a jalsa instead of a long march, Geo News reported. Talks between the government and PTI continued for two-and-half hours.

Khan in relevance to the news tweeted, “Absolutely not! We are moving towards Islamabad & no question of any deal. We will remain in Islamabad till announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies & elections are given.”

Rumours & delib disinfo that a deal has been done. Absolutely not! We are moving towards Islamabad & no question of any deal. We will remain in Islamabad till announcement of dates for dissolution of assemblies & elections are given. Calling all ppl of Islamabad & Pindi to join

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 25, 2022

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb also said that no agreement has been reached between the federal government and PTI. She said news of negotiations and an agreement between the government and PTI is “baseless”.

وفاقی حکومت اور پاکستان تحریک انصاف کے درمیان کوئی معاہدہ نہیں ہوا ۔ حکومت اور تحریک انصاف کے درمیان مذاکرات اور معاہدہ کی خبر بے بنیاد ہے .پولیس اہلکاروں کو شہید کرنے والے مسلح جتھے کے ساتھ کوئی معاہدہ نہیں کیا گیا.

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) May 25, 2022

Detention expected of Khan

The government has decided to detain PTI Chairman Imran Khan with the top party leadership on its way to Islamabad from Peshawar today for the Azadi March, reports The News.

Rangers deployed in Islamabad

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah announced that the federal government will not allow any riots in the name of the PTI long march. Section 144 has been imposed in Lahore, Karachi and the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and the roads leading up to the capital city from different parts of the country have been blocked. Rangers have been called in by the government to help protect Islamabad’s, Red Zone.

PTI workers clash with police at Lahore’s Batti Chowk

PTI workers marching towards Islamabad from Lahore engaged in a clash with the police at Batti Chowk in Lahore as they tried to remove the barricades on the roads. Policemen stopped PTI supporters from moving forward and used tear gas.

According to PTI’s official Twitter account, the marchers were also stopped at the Shahdara area.

شاہدرہ (لاہور) کے قریب لوگوں نے رکاوٹیں ہٹا دیں۔#حقیقی_آذادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/TBSjMZxXv1

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 25, 2022

شاہدرہ کے کپتان انجینئر یاسر گیلانی نے شاہدرہ چوک پر لگے کنٹینر ہٹا دیے۔ #حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/DM1355nVJ1

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 25, 2022

Dr Yasmin Rashid’s car attacked by police

PTI supporters came forward and verbally abused the police officials. Meanwhile, Dr Yasmin Rashid tried stopping the police from taking away her car keys.

Who is this woman protecting Dr. Sahiba?
Brave! #حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ #LongMarch pic.twitter.com/pryIesYCnV

— Noor Asad (@noor_asad__) May 25, 2022

ڈاکٹر یاسمین راشد کی گاڑی کے شیشے توڑ دیے گئے، پولیس نے لاٹھیاں برسائیں۔۔۔!!! pic.twitter.com/p1ddC42M4j

— Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) May 25, 2022

You can attack us, you can try to throw everything at us through your planted criminals, but you’ll never be able to stop this Haqeeqi Azadi! #حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/sSghf61vpd

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 25, 2022

Hammad Azhar tried to be arrested

PTI leader Hammad Azhar tweeted, the impediments and containers on Bati Chowk, Ravi Bridge, and Shahdara have been removed and the roads have been cleared by “the public”.

Illegal obstructions and containers placed at:

Batti chowk cleared
Ravi pul cleared
Shahadara chowk

Have been cleared by the awaam!

— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) May 25, 2022

Weapons and ammunition recovered

Meanwhile, police said that they have recovered heavy ammunition and weapons from the residences of PTI leaders Bijash Niazi and Zubair Niazi.

DIG Operations Sohail Chauhdry in a press conference shared that the raids were conducted at Nawan Kot and Multan Road areas from where three persons were arrested. However, Zubair Niazi fled from the scene. Giving details of the arms recovered, the police officer said that six 223 bore guns, 13 rifles, 96 SMG rifles, and 26 magazines of pistols were found.