...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is
Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
workers, the capital police have started issuing threats to PTI leaders to pre-empt their Azadi March planned for August 14, the party said on Sunday.
"I received a call this morning from the Special Branch (of police) asking me to shift my family from my house by 5pm for I could be put under house arrest anytime," Shireen Mazari, big shot and information secretary of the PTI, told a presser here.
She said someone introducing himself as Saqlain Bajwa delivered the threat to her.
"How can I push out my family from my house, and why should I," she asked, adding, "I am not the only one who received the call. Naeemul Haq, staff officer to PTI Chief Imran Khan
... aka
Taliban Khan, who ain't the brightest knife in the national drawer...
, also received a similar call."
Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ali Nekokara had denied to Dawn on Saturday that the police had been visiting the homes of PTI activists and menacingly demanding information about the party workers mobilising support for the march.
But SSP Nekokara meaningfully added that the police had "only been collecting contact numbers" of the party workers, in accordance
with the Standard Operating Procedure, for conveying them government's messages in case of an emergency.
In reply to a question, Ms Mazari said the PTI has decided not to seek permission from the Ministry of Interior or the District Administration for holding its Azadi March.
"We know about the threats to Imran Khan but he has never tried to hide behind bulletproof shields. There will be same security for workers and leaders," she said.