LALAMUSA: A tense standoff unfolded in Gujrat on Sunday when a heavy contingent of police cordoned off Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi House and Kunjah House, leading to arrests and a heated exchange of words between law-enforcers and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sumaira Elahi.
The operation began around 5pm, when police suddenly surrounded both residences and deployed officers on all sides. According to sources, the police detained several individuals present in Kunjah House during the search operation.
However, authorities remained tight-lipped about the specific reasons for the arrests and the encirclement, adding to the growing sense of unease. Sumaira Elahi, former candidate for PP-34, confronted the police during the siege, demanding answers. The exchange of words quickly turned bitter as officers refused to provide any clear explanation for their actions. Sumaira accused the government of stifling political dissent and infringing on the rights of her party members. “This is nothing but a blatant display of fascism,” Sumaira Elahi said in a statement to The News.
“The rulers who came to power through rigging cannot tolerate our genuine meetings; and this siege is proof of their fear. The people are watching these retaliatory actions closely. “What does the government want to prove by banning our peaceful meetings,” she asked.
Sources close to the matter suggest that the police action might have been prompted by reports of party meetings held at Zahoor Elahi House and Kunjah House in connection with PTI’s upcoming Lahore power show and Islamabad Jalsa. The siege, which began in the late afternoon, continued well into the night, with the police presence remaining strong until approximately 2am.