Several PTI followers who showed up on Mall Road to take part in the rally the party says it was holding in “support of the judiciary” have been detained by police.
Following the PTI workers’ encroachment onto Canal Road and the construction of a temporary bridge, police also baton-charged the crowd. Containers were blocking the road from The Mall to Zaman Park. The PTI had called for its supporters to assemble at its leader Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence for a pro-judiciary rally that had been announced. The Punjab government had warned the PTI workers against taking to the streets and had earlier imposed Section 144 for seven days in the city due to security concerns. Water cannons and a sizable police presence have been deployed close to Zaman Park.
The PTI released videos on its Twitter handle, showing that police are using water cannons and arresting workers on Canal Road.
As Section 144 is being implemented, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is preparing to hold a protest in the capital of Punjab to express support for the judiciary in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the holding of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The order was issued by Additional Chief Secretary Shakeel Ahmed and stated: “It has been noticed that numerous rallies and protests are held therein on a daily basis at different places of District Lahore, which not only pose serious security threats but also disrupt traffic and inconvenience to the general public.
There is also a history of terrorist activities in the rallies/ protests. wherein, a number of police officials and civilians embarrassed shahadat [martyrdom]”. “Hence, in the context of prevailing overall security situation in the wake of recent wave of terrorism & latest threat alerts, it has been necessary to impose section 144 of Cr.P.C, 1898 on holding of all kinds of Assemblies, Gatherings, Sits-in, Rallies. Processions, Demonstrations, Jalsas, Dharnas, Protests and such like other activities across the district Lahore to avert any untoward incident,” reads the order.
The additional chief secretary said the order shall come into force with immediate effect and remain in force for seven days.
PTI leader Hammad Azhar lambasted Punjab Interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi saying he was ending democracy by refusing any political activity in the city even though the elections were scheduled for April 30.
Talking to the media outside Zaman Park, he said the caretaker government’s only responsibility was to conduct elections but it was creating hindrances in the election campaign by banning any rallies and political activity.
He alleged that the incumbent government wanted bloodshed in the city, and he directed party workers to remain peaceful and refrain from any clashes.
Taking to Twitter, he shared a picture of three PTI activists who had allegedly been arrested.
