Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is set to start 'Jail Bharo Tehreek' (count arrest movement) from Lahore on Wednesday (today).
According to the party statements, the movement is set to begin with the hope to counter the "attack on constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights" and the "economic meltdown" by the incumbent government.
Hundreds of party workers and a couple of senior leaders including Shah Mehmood Qureshi would volunteer for court arrest in Lahore on Wednesday.
In a series of tweets, Imran Khan said that the PTI is set to start the Jail Bharo campaign for two main reasons.
"One, it is a peaceful, non-violent protest against the attack on our constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights. We are facing sham FIRs and NAB cases, custodial torture, attacks on journalists and social media people," wrote the PTI chief.
The former premier added that the second is against the economic meltdown brought on by a "cabal of crooks who have money laundered billions in looted wealth and gotten NROs for themselves while crushing the people, especially, the poor and the middle class, under the burden of spiralling inflation and rising unemployment."
media ppl. Two, it is against the economic meltdown brought on by cabal of crooks who have money laundered billions in looted wealth & gotten NROs for themselves while crushing the ppl, esp the poor & middle class, under the burden of spiralling inflation & rising unemployment.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 22, 2023
In a separate video message posted on PTI's official Twitter account, Imran Khan urged people to come out and participate in the protest for “true freedom”.
چئیرمین عمران خان کا قوم کے نام اہم پیغام !! #جیل_بھرو_خوف_کا_بت_توڑو pic.twitter.com/rkPcEJdnA5
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 22, 2023
Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen outside Khan’s residence in Lahore's Zaman Park, party’s senior vice president Fawad Chaudhry announced that the “historic movement” would commence from Lahore.
Earlier on February 17, PTI chief Imran Khan had announced that his party would start 'Jail Bharo Tehreek' from February 22 (today).
In a televised address, the PTI chief said he is directing his party to start preparations for the launch of the movement on Wednesday.
“I am announcing, God willing, my ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ from Wednesday. I am telling my entire party today to prepare,” the PTI chief said.
Khan had said that the movement would begin from Lahore before moving to other major cities in the country.
The former premier said that he was sure that the incumbent coalition government was trying its best to delay elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where the provincial assemblies have been dissolved.
