Home TRENDING PTI’s RALLY IS IN DOUBT AS THE CEC DISCUSSES THE SECTION144 ISSUE

PTI’s RALLY IS IN DOUBT AS THE CEC DISCUSSES THE SECTION144 ISSUE

PTI's RALLY IS IN DOUBT AS THE CEC DISCUSSES THE SECTION144 ISSUE

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Imran cancels the PTI rally after Section 144 was “illegally” implemented in Lahore. The ECP will hear applications that claim the interim government banned gatherings in order to prevent the rally from happening tomorrow.

Former prime minister Imran Khan addressing supporters from his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park on March 11, 2023. SCREENGRAB

Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), postponed the party’s election rally on Sunday after the Punjab caretaker government imposed Section 144. The rally was supposed to take place today.

“It seems again Section [144] has been imposed illegally solely on PTI election campaign as all other public activities are ongoing in Lahore,” the former premier claimed.

Only Zaman Park, he asserted, had been cordoned off by containers and a sizable police presence.

Imran admonished all PTI supporters to “not fall into this trap” before announcing the postponement of the rally.

The head of Pakistan’s Election Commission (ECP) has called a meeting for tomorrow to discuss the PTI’s appeal expressing disapproval of the Punjab interim government’s decision to prohibit the party from holding a rally.

At 10:30 on Monday, the meeting regarding the applications of PTI leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Babar Awan will be presided over by CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja.

Speaking to the media, the former minister stated that “under the cover of Section 144, only the rally of Tehreek-e-Insaf is being stopped today, while a marathon and PSL matches are also taking place in Lahore.”

Imran Khan, the leader of the PTI, instructed party lawyer Babar Awan earlier in the day to petition the ECP in opposition to the interim government’s decision to forbid public gatherings today.

The PTI claims that the ban is “illegal”. It asserts that the interim government is breaking Supreme Court order 15 by enforcing Section 144 in Lahore and that campaigning is a constitutional right of the party.

The party has also emphasized that neither the location nor the time of its rally conflict with any other previously scheduled activities, particularly the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) game that is scheduled to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium today.

Imran had previously declared that he would personally lead a rally from Lahore on Sunday to kick off his election campaign.

The provincial government imposed Section 144 in the provincial capital for one day, Sunday, warning that the restriction could be extended if the situation “went out of control” in a late-night development on Saturday.

Amir Mir, the interim information minister for Punjab, had pleaded with the PTI leader not to “take the law into his hands” during a news conference.

He had stated that Lahore was under the strict enforcement of Section 144 and that no one would be permitted to hold a rally or other public gathering.

He had mentioned that a marathon, a cycle race, and an HBL PSL game were all scheduled to take place in the city on Sunday (today), and that they would all be organized as they had been planned one month prior.

Despite the fact that these events were taking place, according to Amir, Imran “all of a sudden” announced his political rally.

One of the main justifications he gave for the imposition of Section 144 was the security of the cricket teams.

He recalled that the PTI had previously announced a rally even though the Aurat March and a game were already scheduled.

The PTI leadership was asked to move their political program to a later date, according to the acting provincial information minister, but they refused.

He issued a warning that Section 144’s enforcement would be further increased if PTI showed any resistance.

According to Amir, anything done prior to April 6 was considered a “political activity.” He also noted that this date was the official start of electioneering.

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