LAHORE - Police on Wednesday detained more than 20 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and lawyers during a crackdown outside Aiwan-e-Adl following a protest call by the Lahore Bar and PTI-affiliated lawyers.

Police began taking PTI workers and lawyers into custody outside the court premises as security was tightened in and around Aiwan-e-Adl to maintain law and order, officials said. Authorities also closed roads surrounding the court complex to regular traffic. Both carriageways from the Civil Secretariat to PMG Chowk were sealed with barricades, while a heavy police contingent was deployed in the area.

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Among those detained were PTI MNA Mubeen Arif Jutt, Punjab Assembly members Ahmar Rashid Bhatti and Owais Warraich (Work), along with more than 20 party workers, according to party sources.

The operation followed a protest call issued by the Lahore Bar and PTI lawyers, prompting authorities to impose heightened security measures around the court premises.

Police maintained that the measures were taken to ensure public safety and maintain law and order. Further details were awaited.

Meanwhile, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Punjab on Wednesday condemned the police action against protesters outside Aiwan-e-Adl in Lahore, alleging that law enforcement used excessive force against peaceful demonstrators and calling for the immediate release of those detained.

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In a joint statement, TTAP Punjab Chief Organiser Ammar Ali Jan and Information Secretary Shayan Bashir claimed that thousands of citizens, political workers, lawyers and civil society members had gathered outside the courts when police launched a baton charge. They alleged that women and children were also subjected to violence during the operation.

The party claimed that PTI Lahore President Mian Akram Usman, Punjab Assembly member Sheikh Imtiaz, more than 50 party workers and several lawmakers were taken into custody during the crackdown.

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Bashir alleged that the Lahore administration had failed to respond to PTI’s written request seeking permission to hold a peaceful protest before resorting to force against demonstrators.

TTAP further claimed that similar protests were held in Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Kasur, Jhang, Kamalia and other districts of Punjab, alleging that authorities had denied permission for demonstrations in multiple provinces.

Ammar Ali Jan described the police action as an attack on constitutional rights, arguing that the right to peaceful assembly had been undermined. He maintained that the crackdown was not directed at a single political party but had broader implications for civil liberties.

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Referring to a recent statement by Amnesty International, the party said the rights organisation had urged Pakistani authorities ahead of the anniversary protests to facilitate peaceful assemblies and avoid unlawful or arbitrary arrests.

TTAP also alleged that private channel court reporter Natiq Rehan was assaulted by police and detained while covering the protest.

The party demanded the immediate release of all detained workers and legislators, registration of criminal cases against the officers responsible for the operation, and the constitution of a judicial inquiry to investigate the conduct of the Lahore administration.

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