Jhelum Valley (Kashmir English): In the lead-up to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned nationwide February 8 protests, arrests have reportedly begun, with Jhelum Valley police detaining PTI Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) General Secretary Advocate Zain Gilani.
According to details, PTI has announced countrywide demonstrations to mark one year since the February 8 elections, prompting the government to take pre-emptive measures.
The arrest of Zain Gilani has been strongly condemned by PTI leader and former assembly candidate Zeeshan Haider, who criticised the police and administration for resorting to retaliatory actions. “Oppression Cannot Deter Us,” says Zeeshan Haider
Speaking on the matter, Zeeshan Haider accused the authorities of acting out of desperation to suppress the February 8 protests. “The police and administration are in a state of panic, resorting to oppressive tactics to silence us,” he said “But let it be clear, such coercion will not weaken our resolve.”
Addressing the arrest of Zain Gilani, he claimed that the victory signs by smiling Gilani would be seen everywhere. “This is an unambiguous statement Imran Khan is going to succeed, but the oppressors have to go the way of failure,” he asserted.
Peviously, former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, had announced that February 8 will be observed as Black Day in protest against what he termed as the ‘theft of the people’s mandate’ in Pakistan.
He stated that the people of AJK will also take part in the protest, alongside the masses across Pakistan, who will hit the streets against fascism. The people of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan will also participate in the demonstrations as per the instructions of their leader, Imran Khan, he added.
He asserted that the entire nation is now united in its demand for the return of what he described as a stolen mandate. “On February 8 2024, the people of Pakistan actively sought out and voted for candidates backed by Imran Khan, even though they were denied their electoral symbols,” he said. “However, through Form-47, a fraudulent government was imposed on the country, turning democracy into a mere joke.”
He reiterated that on February 8 last year, the people had made their decision in favour of PTI and Imran Khan, and accepting this verdict was essential for political stability and national progress. “Depriving people of their fundamental democratic rights through conspiracies and coercion has long been a tactic of certain forces,” he added, “Pakistan cannot achieve political stability until fair and transparent elections are conducted. The country’s economic prosperity depends entirely on its internal stability.”
