[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]LAHORE: Police claimed on Wednesday that several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers were arrested in the Zaman Park area of the provincial capital for violating Section 144.
The party workers were arrested in the Zaman Park area, near PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s residence, after the Punjab Home Department imposed Section 144, which prohibits public demonstrations ahead of the PTI’s election rally and Aurat March slated for today.
According to a notification published today by the Home Department, a number of rallies and protests are staged on a daily basis in various parts of Lahore, posing severe security dangers as well as disrupting traffic and causing discomfort to the general public.
It also mentioned a history of terrorist actions in rallies/protests where a number of police officers and people accepted shahadat.
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“As a result, in the context of the prevailing overall security situation in the aftermath of the recent wave of terrorism and latest threat alerts, it has been necessary to impose Section 144 of the Cr.P.C., 1898 on holding of all kinds of assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, processions, demonstrations, jalsas, dharnas, protests and such like other activities across the district Lahore to avert any untoward
PTI workers arrest
The directive noted that, in the wider interest of public safety, security, peace, and serenity, it is critical to ensure the security of individuals and installations/buildings against any potential terrorist or adverse conduct.
The restriction on public demonstrations hours before the Aurat March on International Women’s Day and the PTI election rally is anticipated to elicit severe criticism from civil society.
While speaking to the media, PTI leader Hammad Azhar stated that a significant number of people will join today’s event.
“How can you prohibit public meetings while elections are taking place on April 30?” Azhar questioned.
Azhar urged party members to keep calm, saying that they had not taken the law into their own hands.
“The rally was meant to start soon, but the roads are already blocked,” he stated, adding that their employees are being arrested.
The PTI leader claimed that Rana Sanaullah desires carnage but that the party will not allow him to do so. “They have enforced a restriction on public gatherings in order to put an end to the march,” he added.
Azhar claims the caretaker chief minister is hindering the democratic process, despite the fact that his responsibility is solely to organise elections. “It is wrong to violate human rights so close to elections.”
He stated that [the government] wishes to construct a Model Town-style environment in Zaman Park.
“The SSP approved the security situation last night, but a prohibition has now been issued,” he explained.
The PTI election rally, led by Imran Khan, was to begin at Zaman Park and end at Data Darbar after passing through the Mall Road Underpass, FC College Underpass, Ichhra, Ferozepur Road close to Muslim Town Morr, Samnabad, LOS Chowk, Lytton Road, MAO College, PMG Chowk, Government College, and Central Model School.
Khan was scheduled to speak at the Data Darbar rally and outline his next course of action.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
