PTI Leadership Assembles in Lahore to Finalise Protest Strategy Amid Rising Political Tensions
A high-profile convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan arrived in Lahore on Saturday, marking the start of what party leaders described as a renewed phase in their political movement. The purpose of the visit was to express solidarity with 26 PTI lawmakers recently suspended from the Punjab Assembly and to finalise the strategy for the party’s upcoming “Azadi Tehreek” or Freedom Movement.
The PTI convoy, consisting of lawmakers and supporters from both the National and provincial assemblies, departed from Islamabad and made several stops en route to Lahore, including Jhelum, Wazirabad, Sarai Alamgir, and Ferozwala. Along the route, the convoy was met with heightened security arrangements, including the presence of police and intelligence agencies at key locations. In Ferozwala, a minor incident occurred when the chief minister’s security detail reportedly bypassed toll payment at the Kala Shah Kaku Interchange, leading to a brief confrontation with toll staff.
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The delegation arrived at the farmhouse of former Deputy Senate Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi near Jati Umrah, where a dinner and a closed-door meeting took place. Senior PTI leaders including Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, Ali Muhammad Khan, and Sahibzada Hamid Raza were also present. According to party insiders, the discussions focused on forming a political roadmap, preparing protest strategies, and exploring alliance possibilities between provincial power centers.
Speaking to the media outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad before departure, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar clarified that the convoy was not part of a protest or rally. “This is not the beginning of any movement. We are only heading to Lahore for a consultative meeting,” he said. He rejected the perception that the party leadership was ignoring the suspended Punjab lawmakers, adding that PTI was in regular contact with them.
Chief Minister Gandapur echoed this sentiment, stating that the convoy symbolised a peaceful message of unity, democracy, and constitutionalism. “We are not here to cause disruption. This is a peaceful journey to support our fellow elected representatives who were removed through undemocratic means,” he said. He also affirmed that the Punjab administration had been informed of their plans in advance.
Tensions briefly flared at Shahdara Morr in Lahore, where Punjab police detained four PTI workers, including Lahore-based leader Engineer Yasir Gilani. Although all were released shortly after, PTI leaders condemned the arrests, calling them politically motivated and accusing the provincial government of harassment. A scheduled press interaction was cancelled due to the tense security environment.
Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Lahore hosted a joint parliamentary meeting, attended by PTI MNAs, MPAs, and senior leadership. The meeting included detailed deliberations on the evolving political landscape, protest preparedness, and strategies to engage grassroots party members more effectively. PTI leader Salman Akram Raja reiterated the peaceful nature of the movement, emphasizing that the party was exercising its democratic and constitutional rights. “We are not staging a rebellion. Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees us the freedom of expression. We want to sit among the people and listen to their problems,” he said.
Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar called the convoy a “symbolic awakening” for Punjab and pledged that PTI would not back down in the face of political repression. He said the government’s use of force to suppress a peaceful gathering was unacceptable and warned that sit-ins and more aggressive political actions could follow if the provincial government continued its clampdown.
The June 27 suspension of 26 PTI legislators during Maryam Nawaz’s address in the Punjab Assembly served as the immediate trigger for this mobilisation. Since then, PTI has claimed that thousands of its workers have been arrested, with raids being conducted across Punjab as the party accelerates its campaign against what it terms the “Form 47 mandate.”
PTI leader Junaid Akbar indicated that the Lahore visit was part of a broader political message and that the movement would gain further momentum in the coming weeks. “This convoy is a signal of unity behind our founder. Our protest will reach its peak by August 5,” he stated.
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