LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department on Wednesday banned “all kinds of protests, demonstrations and sit-ins” in Lahore for seven days citing the “overall security situation” in wake of the recent “wave of terrorism and the threat alerts”, by imposing section 144.
It is to mention here that the PTI had announced a rally in Lahore today, while an Aurat March is also set to be taken out. The home ministry issued a notification in this regard that imposed a ban on “holding all kinds of assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, processions, demonstrations, […] protests and such like other activities across the district Lahore to avert any untoward incident”.
The prohibition came into effect immediately. Section 144 is a temporary order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Hammad Azhar criticized the Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi and those “dictating him” for “ending democracy” by not allowing any political activity in the city when elections are already scheduled for April 30.
Talking to the media outside Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence here ahead of the rally, he said that the “so-called unbiased caretaker government’s only duty” was to conduct elections but it was banning rallies and political activity, creating a hindrance in the election campaign.
In a tweet shortly after the press talk, Azhar shared a picture of three PTI workers who had allegedly been arrested today (Wednesday). “Is there a democracy right now or has it been suspended and just its announcement is awaited?” he posed a question.
PTI’s planned rally
The PTI is set to take out a rally from Zaman Park which will culminate at Data Darbar while party chief Imran Khan along with other leaders were also expected to be in attendance.
