Lahore police arrest PTI activist ‘planning another May 9’

In Lahore, police have apprehended a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) activist allegedly planning to stage another violent incident reminiscent of the May 9 unrest during the party's September 27 protests. DIG Operations Faisal Kamran referred to the suspect as a "PTI goon" who sought to undermine peace. The PTI categorically denied the police's allegations.

Amin, the suspect, and a female companion, later identified as Fatima Haider, were heard in an audio recording arranging for between 20 to 30 "rioters" for the May 9-like violence across the provincial capital, according to DIG Kamran. Fatima Haider, who remains at large, was previously involved in the May 9 cases and was on bail.

The police received intelligence about the conspiracy on September 26 and apprehended Amin, a driver for Haider's family from Sahiwal. Several additional audio recordings from Amin's mobile phone revealed further unsettling plans by PTI operatives, despite the party leadership consistently advocating for peaceful protests. In response to the police's news conference, Punjab PTI information secretary Shaukat Basra condemned the allegations as part of a "vague narrative campaign."

Basra accused the PTI of engaging in false propaganda, reminding the public that the party founder, Imran Khan, had explicitly instructed members to maintain peace. He also challenged the police to present evidence in court, comparing the PTI's claim to the May 9 false-flag operation as a "white lie" and a politically motivated allegation.