Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), criticized the PDM administration in Lahore, claiming that despite the nearly 150 cases brought against him, his party is not in a corner because of the level playing field.
“A level playing field does not imply that Imran Khan has no options. I have been the target of 100 legal actions, including 40 terrorism-related lawsuits. Just a few hours before the fourth sehri of the holy month of Ramadan, Khan addressed a crowd in front of the public and announced that the number of cases had reached almost 150. He praised his party’s supporters for attending the rally, saying that they came in large numbers despite numerous barriers to Minar-e-Pakistan.
“Those in power must know that [blocking the roads and pathways with shipping] containers cannot stop people who want true independence,” he explained, adding that fear was spread to frustrate the public meeting.
Imran said that his government was overthrown under a conspiracy and criminals were imposed on our country as part of the plot.
He argued that true freedom can only be achieved with justice, citing examples of people in other countries standing up to oppression. He stressed that Pakistan will have true freedom when it has supremacy and rule of law.
Khan underscored that the country has not achieved the freedom it deserves under the rule of law and criticised the government and democrats for not upholding it.
“We did not get the freedom which we should have got from the rule of law. It is unfortunate that even our democrats didn’t let the law have an upper hand in the country,” he lamented.
The PTI organised the jalsa at Lahore’s monumental Minar-e-Pakistan ground despite the interim Punjab government’s “threat alert” that terrorists might target political functions in the provincial capital.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan — who was ousted as the prime minister in April last year and is embroiled in dozens of cases — addressed the crowd, standing behind a bulletproof container, which has been placed at the jalsa ground to ensure his security.
In the alert, the government has said that terrorists, carrying explosive material, have reached Lahore and will either target political rallies or law enforcers deployed for the security of those events.
As the party prepares to hold the gathering, the government has placed containers on the way leading to Minar-e-Pakistan, leading to hurdles for people seeking to partake in the jalsa.
But in his statement, caretaker Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir said that people are not being restricted from going to the rally through barriers, but the law enforcement agencies were ensuring citizens’ protection through these measures.
The minister also added said that the workers of any political party are not being prevented from joining the rally and that the government has given permission to PTI to hold the event.
The routes leading to Minar Pakistan from Ravi Bridge and Railway Station are closed, while containers have also been placed at the city’s Shah Alam Market.
Moreover, the Sagian Bridge and Engineering University Road routes are closed. The Shahdara, Ravi Toll Plaza, and Bati Chowk routes to Minar-e-Pakistan routes have been blocked with containers while Niazi Chowk, Delhi Gate and Dumuria Bridge have also been blocked.
On the other hand, the police have arrested over 50 PTI workers from different areas of Rahim Yar Khan, while 26 workers including PTI leader Javed Akhtar Ansari’s son were arrested in Multan, it was reported.
The PTI claimed that many workers have also been detained from Lodhran and Bhakkar.
Meanwhile, CCPO Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana refuted reports of roadblocks being placed on roads leading up to the ground and said people are being allowed to pass through after checking.
Internet services have been suspended in different parts of Lahore, including Zaman Park, Minar-e-Pakistan, Garhi Shahu, Davis Road, and Lakshmi Chowk.
