Under the shadow of Section 144 and amid stalled negotiations with the government over festering grievances, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday took to the streets nationwide, observing a 'Black Day' to mark the anniversary of last year's "electoral rigging", which it claims robbed it of its mandate.
The protests unfolded despite a tight police grip, multiple arrests, and Section 144 restrictions barring public gatherings. Several PTI leaders and workers, including Meher Bano, daughter of senior PTI leader and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, were taken into custody.
Law enforcement agencies clamped down hard on PTI workers attempting to rally in defiance of Section 144, which had been imposed by the PML-N-led Punjab government.
However, despite roadblocks and restricted city access, PTI managed to stage small but persistent demonstrations across the province, with lawmakers, ticket-holders and activists leading the charge.
PTI Central Punjab leader Hammad Azhar, Mehar Sharafat, and Engineer Muzamil Salahuddin led protests in Lahore.
Similar demonstrations were reported in several cities across Punjab, including Okara, Dipalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Khanpur, Haroonabad, Jafarabad, Shakargarh, Chichawatni, Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Azad Kashmir, Muzaffargarh, Gujrat, Kot Addu, Sheikhupura and Rajanpur.
PTI parliamentarians and workers took part in these rallies, facing significant police presence.
In Multan, authorities deployed heavy contingents of police at key locations, including Chungi No 9, Ghunghat Chowk, Nawan Shahr Chowk and Chowk Kacheri, where PTI supporters gathered.
Meher Bano and Zahid Bahar Hashmi led one of the protests before being detained along with several other activists. The police swiftly dispersed the crowd, transporting detainees to police stations in prisoner vans.
Despite the strong-arm tactics, PTI doubled down on its commitment to peaceful demonstrations. The party vowed to avoid confrontation on February 8, instead planning a major rally in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and urging nationwide participation.
Marking the first anniversary of the general elections, the party stated it would refrain from any confrontations or unrest. Instead, it announced a major rally in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, urging supporters from across the country to participate.
PTI had initially sought permission to hold a high-profile rally at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore, but Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza rejected the request, citing security concerns due to multiple concurrent events, including an international speaker conference, a cricket match and a horse and cattle show -- all requiring heightened security.
PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja reiterated the party's stance, emphasising that protests would be limited to tehsil and union council levels, while the main event would take place in Swabi.
He reassured that the party had no plans to incite disorder.
Swabi rally
Meanwhile, PTI leaders and prominent regional figures delivered fiery speeches at a massive Swabi rally, condemning widespread electoral fraud, institutional neglect, and unconstitutional governance.
They vowed to reclaim the stolen mandate and fight for the rights of the people, warning that the nation would not tolerate injustice any longer.
Addressing the gathering, Junaid Akbar, PTI's newly minted provincial president, asserted that institutions must remain within their proper bounds.
"Today's rally is a message for those who say that PTI is tired. Institutions become strong only when the people stand with them; we respect institutions." However, Junaid regretted the widening gap between the institutions and the public.
Later in the evening at the Swabi Interchange – marking the first anniversary of the February 8, 2024, general elections, now remembered as "Black Day" by the party – Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said that under Imran Khan's leadership, the struggle for the supremacy of law and constitutional governance would continue unabated.
"Under Imran Khan's leadership, we will move forward to establish the supremacy of law and the rule of the Constitution, and anyone who comes against us on this path, we will fight them and die, if necessary," he vowed.
"We demand our rights for the mandate that was taken away from us," he asserted and urged that institutions should serve as the voice of the people rather than the mandate-stealing rulers.
"If you are not ready for dialogue, remember that we also know how to respond."
"I send a message to the army chief: we must be united against terrorism and abandon the company of thieves".
He lambasted the federal government for instigating conflicts between institutions and asserted that his province, which has suffered deeply from terrorism, demanded the protection of the Constitution and unity in the fight against terrorism.
He said the green part of PTI's flag symbolised peace, which had guided the party's approach so far.
"Along with the colour of peace, we have the colour of blood as well, the colour of revolution," he said.
"If we grab this side [of the flag], then you won't be able to bear it," Gandapur warned.
While rallying PTI workers, CM Gandapur then began chanting: "'Khoon ka badla khoon' (blood for blood)."
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar stressed the need for a political solution to the country's problems. He recalled that Imran Khan had called for negotiations – and that PTI had set up various committees in this regard – only to be met with government stubbornness.
"Imran Khan will call again," he declared, urging maximum mobilisation among workers.
Gohar warned that without Imran, the party could not function, and he vowed that the dark chapter of the stolen mandate from the previous elections would never be forgotten.
At the rally, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the opposition alliance president, called for unity among the people, warning that if true solidarity was achieved, the federal government would not last more than three months.
Achakzai derided the current regime as being formed by "looters and thieves".
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram alleged that the election "mandate was stolen" by the government to push through the 26th Amendment.
"[It was done] so the judges could be exploited. So they could appoint judges by themselves and get the decisions they want," he said, quoting party founder Imran Khan.
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