LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) today (Saturday) took power for the second time this month in Khana under strict conditions imposed by the Lahore administration.
A stage was set up in the rally venue, about 1,000 chairs were placed there, and sound equipment and other facilities were prepared, and people began to gather.
Today’s rally came after a No Objection Certificate (NOC) was issued by the provincial capital’s Deputy Commissioner a day earlier following the Lahore High Court (LHC) directing the civic body to decide on the rally request of the political party founded by Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, party leaders including Shoaib Shaheen and Aamir Mughal have left for Lahore from Rawat while party supporters from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are accompanying KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s motorcade to the Punjab capital.
Gandapur has reportedly deployed 1,122 ambulances and heavy machinery for the rescue to clear obstacles along the way, drawing criticism from Punjab’s Information and Culture Minister Asma Bokhari for “utilising KP’s resources” for the Lahore rally.
Bokhari also slammed PTI founder Imran Khan for using the phrase “live or die” at the Lahore rally, saying it was unacceptable as it gave the impression that he was bringing people to create anarchy in Punjab.
She said the PTI’s plan to create anarchy and violence and disrupt law and order was doomed to fail as the provincial government was ready to deal with such a situation.
Contrary to the Punjab Police claims, some PTI leaders claim that they faced obstruction on their way to Lahore.
Meanwhile, PTI leader and lawyer Muhammad Ali Saif has also alleged that the authorities are creating obstacles for PTI workers with various tactics and dozens of PTI workers have reportedly been arrested.
He said it was shameful that despite giving permission for the rally, they proceeded to block access roads and arrest workers.
He also said police had confiscated sound systems and seats from the venue.
The party has been trying for months to hold rallies across the country but authorities have repeatedly denied permission, citing security concerns and other reasons.
They successfully held a rally in Sanjani, Islamabad on September 8. However, this show of force was soon followed by a crackdown on party leaders, some of whom were allegedly “picked” from within the parliament premises, for violating the terms of the NOC issued by the administration and the law “Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024,” which came into force just a day before the rally.
Authorities set 43 conditions for PTI Lahore rally
Authorities issued a no-objection certificate with 43 conditions, including a time limit between 3 pm and 6 pm and a ban on anti-national slogans and speeches.
The administration has not only banned those accused of hate speech or on trial from attending rallies, but also demanded an apology from Gandapur for “offensive” remarks he made at a rally on September 8 in the federal capital.
The rally will assume significance for both the PTI and the Punjab government as the former has repeatedly claimed to have the support of the masses while the latter has said otherwise.
Former prime minister Imran Khan this week called the Khana rallies a “life or death situation” and urged people to “stand up for your future”.
“Let the PTI exercise their democratic right to protest.”
Earlier, Gohar had urged the government not to disrupt the PTI Lahore rally.
He said setting up roadblocks for participants would help them reach the rally site on time and allow the rally to finish on schedule.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also advised the Punjab government to allow the PTI to exercise its democratic right to protest.
“It is the PTI’s democratic right to hold rallies and peaceful protests,” Bilawal said, adding that the provincial government should also ensure that the rallies are held in a democratic manner.
On Friday night, over 20 PTI activists and supporters were arrested for holding a street rally without taking any permission from the district administration.
The arrests came after officials told Geo News that the Punjab government had drawn up plans to arrest 3,700 suspects wanted and alleged criminals in the May 9 riots who participated in the rally in Lahore.