Over 60 workers of Imran Khan's party arrested during 'Jail Bharo' campaign in Lahore

Over 60 workers, including six senior leaders, of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party were arrested on Wednesday following its mass court arrest movement over what it called the violation of fundamental rights, abuse of the Constitution and the economic meltdown.

The party, however, claimed that between 500 and 700 workers and leaders have been picked up by the Lahore police.

"Police arrested 60 PTI activists including former federal ministers Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and Hammad Azhar, Senators Azam Swati and Waleed Iqbal (grandson of poet Allama Iqbal) and former Punjab governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema," a senior officer of Punjab police told PTI.

"They presented themselves for arrest," he said, adding that the arrested men have been shifted to the Kot Lakhpat Jail for a month under the maintenance of public order.

PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said that a large number of party leaders and workers had given themselves up for arrest.

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"Around 500-700 PTI workers have given themselves up for arrest," he said.

Chaudhry claimed that the police had arrived prepared with police vans but were “worried after seeing the thousands of people and contemplating what they should do”.

He said Wednesday's protest was limited to Lahore and on Thursday the party workers and leaders would court arrest in Peshawar.

Speaking from inside the police van, Qureshi said that it was a matter of great pride that he was the first to give himself up for arrest as promised earlier.

"This movement will continue until the imported government puts an end to the lawlessness in the country” and is held accountable for the last 10 months in the people’s court, he said.

A large number of PTI workers and leaders had gathered at the Jail Road. Some of the party workers had chained and kept themselves in the 'artificial jails' they made.

The government had imposed section 144 on different roads including Mall Road Lahore under which not more than five people can gather there.