The Punjab government on Friday imposed Section 144 banning public gatherings in Rawalpindi district for two days, and the PTI called on its supporters to gather at Liaquat Bagh.
Article 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code is a legal provision that gives regional governments the power to prohibit gatherings of four or more people within a region for a certain period of time. They are typically imposed to prevent potential disturbances, maintain law and order, and suppress activities that may escalate to violence.
On Monday, PTI Chairman Lawyer Gohar Ali Khan announced in a press conference that the party would hold a rally in Rawalpindi on Saturday. He said the party has applied for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and requested the Punjab government to grant it.
However, PTI founder Imran Khan had announced a day earlier that the party would not hold the rally, saying the decision was taken out of concern that the government would not allow it to hold events and specify locations in the city. The venue will be in the suburbs.
He said that instead of a rally, the party would hold a protest and PTI’s lawyers would demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court.
A notification dated September 27 issued by the Punjab Home Department (copy available on Dawn.com) said a political party was planning a demonstration on Saturday, adding that it could be used by “miscreants” and “mischief makers.” “It’s sexual,” he warned. …Protests to carry out subversive/anti-national activities…to carry out its evil plans. ”
Article 144(6) of the Act states that in order to “maintain the law and order situation” and “ensure the security of people and premises/buildings against potential threats and unlawful activities”, It said it was imposed in Walpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal and Attock.
According to the notification, the district administration has banned “all kinds of political rallies, rallies, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations, jalsa, protests and other similar activities” during the weekend and prohibited the discharging of weapons in Rawalpindi, Jhelum and Chakal. It was also prohibited to carry them. and the Attock area.
“It’s our constitutional right”: PTI’s Omar Ayub Khan
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Omar Ayub Khan uploaded a video message on X asking people to gather at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
“I request everyone to come in large numbers to Liaquat Bagh at 2 pm,” he said. “We will assemble. It is our legal and constitutional right.”
PTI’s last rally in Lahore came to a climax with the lights going out and police personnel leaving the stage after the 6pm deadline passed after leaders addressed their supporters. It seems that we have come to an end that we cannot reach.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and parliamentary opposition leader Omar Ayub had not arrived at the venue by the deadline.
On September 8, PTI held a large rally in Sanjani, on the outskirts of Islamabad, but when the rally failed to end within the specified time, police had to forcibly disperse the crowd, and PTI supporters and officials A conflict occurred between.
The next day, law enforcement raided the party’s upper echelons, taking at least three key leaders from various parts of the city and evacuating others to the Capitol. However, on September 12, 10 PTI MNAs were submitted to Parliament after the production order was issued.
