Pakistan

Imran postpones PTI rally after Section 144 'illegally' imposed in Lahore

ECP to take up applications claiming interim govt imposed ban on gatherings to prevent PTI rally tomorrow

Our Correspondent March 12, 2023

Former prime minister Imran Khan addressing supporters from his residence in Lahore's Zaman Park on March 11, 2023. SCREENGRAB

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Sunday postponed the party's election rally, which was scheduled to be held today, after the Punjab caretaker government imposed Section 144.

The former premier said that "it seems again Sec[tion] 144 has been imposed illegally solely on PTI election campaign as all other public activities are ongoing in Lahore."

He claimed that "only Zaman Park has been surrounded by containers & heavy police contingent."

It seems again Sec 144 has been imposed illegally solely on PTI election campaign as all other public activities are ongoing in Lahore. Only Zaman Park has been surrounded by containers & heavy police contingent. Clearly, like 8 March, Punjab CM & police want to provoke clashes
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 12, 2023

Warning all PTI supporters to "not fall into this trap", Imran announced the postponement of the rally.

to file more sham FIRs against PTI ldrshp & workers & to use as pretext for postponing elections. Elec Schedule has been announced so how can Sec 144 be imposed on pol activity? I AM TELLING ALL PTI WORKERS NOT TO FALL INTO THIS TRAP. Hence we have postponed rally till tomorrow.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 12, 2023

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)'s chief has called a meeting at the ECP tomorrow to take up the PTI's plea expressing reservations against the Punjab interim government's decision to stop the party from holding a rally.

Read Is PM Shehbaz following in Imran's footsteps?

CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja will chair the meeting at 10:30 am on Monday on PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid and Babar Awan's application.

Talking to the media, the former minister said that "today, a marathon and the PSL matches are also being held in Lahore, but under the guise of Section 144, only the rally of Tehreek-e-Insaf is being stopped."

آج لاہور میں میراتھون بھی ہو رہا ہے اور پی ایس ایل میچ بھی لیکن دفعہ 144 کی آڑ میں صرف تحریک انصاف کی ریلی کا روکا جا رہا ہے جسے فوری قالعدم قرار دینا چاہیئے۔ @Dr_YasminRashid
#ImranKhanRally pic.twitter.com/SuuTNiIF24
— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 12, 2023

Earlier in the day, PTI chief Imran Khan directed party lawyer Babar Awan to move the ECP against the interim government's decision to impose a ban on public gatherings today.

According to the PTI, the ban is "illegal". It maintains that by imposing Section 144 in Lahore, the interim government is violating para 15 of the Supreme Court's orders, and that campaigning is a constitutional right of the party.

Further, the party has stressed that the venue and time of its rally do not clash with any other pre-scheduled events, in particular the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) match that is to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium today.

A day earlier, Imran had again announced launching his election campaign with a rally, which he would personally lead, from Lahore on Sunday.

It may be noted here that in a late-night development on Saturday, the provincial government had imposed Section 144 in the provincial capital for a day – Sunday – warning that the restriction could be extended if the situation “went out of control”.

In a news conference, Caretaker Punjab Minister for Information Amir Mir had urged the PTI chairman not to “take the law into his hands”.

He had said Section 144 was being enforced in Lahore, adding that no one would be allowed to take out a rally or hold a public gathering.

He had noted that an HBL PSL match, marathon and a cycle race were also scheduled to be held in the city on Sunday (today), saying these events would be organised as they were planned a month ago.

Amir had said Imran had “all of a sudden” announced his political rally despite the holding of these events.

He had cited the security of the cricket teams as one of the main reasons for the imposition of Section 144.

He had recalled that earlier too, the PTI had announced holding a rally though the Aurat March and a match were already planned.

Read More PTI delegation meets CEC

The caretaker provincial information minister said that they had asked the PTI leadership to shift their political programme to a next date but they refused to do so.

He warned that if there was any resistance on PTI’s part the enforcement of Section 144 would be further extended.

Amir observed that the official date for electioneering was April 6, adding that anything done before that was a “political activity”.