Police baton charge Imran Khan`s party activists

Lahore: Pakistani police on Friday baton-charged and arrested scores of leaders and activists of Imran Khan`s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party who were protesting alleged rigging in recent by-polls. A large number of Tehrik-e-Insaf workers gathered outside the Punjab Assembly on The Mall road and held a demonstration against rigging in Thursday`s by-polls to a provincial assembly seat. The party`s candidate lost by a few hundred votes to a PML-N candidate. As the workers and leaders shouted slogans against the PML-N government of Punjab province and the Election Commission, police started a baton-charge. The policemen also thrashed the workers for resisting arrest. Those arrested include the president of the party`s Punjab chapter, Ejaz Chaudhry, information secretary Andleeb Abbas and the Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly, Mian Mahmoodur Rashid. Acting Lahore Police chief Rai Tahir said the activists were arrested for a violating ban on organising rallies on The Mall road. Later, the arrested men and women were released on the order of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Tehrik-e-Insaf leaders said the Chief Justice should take note of the police "brutality" and take action against those responsible for the baton charge.

Imran Khan announced his party will launch a drive to protest the Punjab government`s "brutal act". PTI