Imran Khan and PTI against all odds’ stage Lahore Jalsa

On Saturday, PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan slammed the current government for creating an “environment of fear” and praised the Minar-e-Pakistan rally participants for attending despite a security alert from the caretaker Punjab government.

“One thing is clear, whoever is in power, they will get a message today that people’s passion cannot be curbed via hurdles and containers,” he told a packed crowd in Lahore, saying that 2,000 PTI supporters had been jailed to obstruct the party’s march.

Khan asked, our predecessors sacrifice for this Pakistan? “Level playing field does not mean to tie Imran Khan’s hands and give others all the facilities but to give an equal opportunity to all,” he remarked.

“I’ve finished 100 cases, maybe 150. I have 40 terrorism charges. “Poor fight false cases in this country their whole life,” he remarked.

The PTI chief said Sindh’s power was untouchable. “Zardari system.” Real freedom will arrive if the rule of law prevails. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was “begging around the world” but getting no relief.

He recalled that PDM held three long marches under PTI’s rule, and the government didn’t stop them. “I promised to arrange their dinner.”

“But we suddenly came to know that police had started baton charge and used [tear gas] shelling,” he claimed. They desired anarchy. I canceled the gathering to avoid bloodshed.”

Imran stated “shameless people” have filed a complaint against him for killing Zille Shah, a special PTI worker.

“Zille Shah was thrown away on the road with 26 torture marks. His killer? Despite my feelings, they should be punished by law.”

Despite court bail, police arrested him on March 14 with an arrest warrant.

I said I had bail. Police wanted to transport me to Islamabad. I swore to appear before Islamabad court. My surety bond was rejected. Three sides attacked my residence. Pellets and tear gas shells. I experienced Palestine and Kashmir for the first time.

The interim Punjab administration had placed containers, and barriers, stopped roads, suspended internet connectivity, and imprisoned dozens of PTI workers to prevent them from reaching the rally venue.

The province government said the barriers were put up because the banned Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had threatened the previous ruling party’s public meeting.

The district government denied permission for the Wednesday Lahore rally. Therefore it was moved to Saturday. The provincial administration has twice prevented the party from holding a public rally in Lahore under Section 144.

March 8 saw the first ban. Unlike the Women’s March, PTI workers were barred from public gatherings.

The Election Commission of Pakistan announced that Punjab would vote on April 30, the same day. As a result, the week-long Section 144 restriction was lifted the next day.

After the interim Punjab government imposed Section 144 again, PTI called off the demonstration. However, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered PTI to notify the district government before staging a rally.

On Saturday, PTI Chairman and former premier Imran Khan promised to use the “power of the people” to make the public meeting successful.

After getting bail in three instances, the PTI president told media outside an anti-terrorism court in Lahore that the present government was “cowardly” by detaining 1,600 PTI workers to disrupt the gathering.

“My heart says this rally will break all the records [of previous public gatherings],” Imran remarked, encouraging people to attend.

“PTI workers and supporters will make history today.”

The PTI chief tweeted that he would reveal his Haqeeqi Azadi March vision at the rally.

I invite everyone in Lahore to the rally after the Tarawih prayers. He tweeted, “I will explain Haqeeqi Azadi and how we will rescue Pakistan from the cabal of crooks.”

The PTI chairman is worried that the government will stifle their rally plans.

“[Govt] will put all sorts of hurdles to prevent people from attending, but I want to remind our people that it is their fundamental right to attend a political gathering,” he said.

“Everyone must assert their right as people of a free nation that won independence and come to Minar-e-Pakistan.”

After Taraweeh’s prayers at 9 pm, PTI’s official Twitter account announced the rally.

Lahore’s local authority blocked Minar-e-Pakistan and other city routes with containers.

PTI supporters from neighboring province cities and towns were blocked from entering the site.

The PTI said that police raided party workers’ homes for five days and detained their leaders and employees.

They pledged to rally despite “police and administration tactics.”

PTI leaders Hammad Khan Niazi and Bajash Khan Niazi were unavailable when police raided their Manawan home.

Hammad promised to hold the demonstration and overcome government obstacles, calling it “historical” and promising to support Imran “till the last breath.”

Police raided PTI’s PP-145 candidate Malik Mubasher Lal’s Samnabad home. However, he was not home.

We don’t fear police bullying. However, Lal stated the cops broke his house’s walls and stole goods, making the government a coward.

“Imran Khan is our future. But, he continued, “We will support him until the end. Police arrested my family and children. We’ll rally.”

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the caretaker government had blocked the protest venue’s roads with containers and barricades, arresting party workers against the LHC’s order. The police had arrested 1,800 PTI leaders in raids. He advised party members to avoid violence and not carry sticks.

He stressed that the public protest was the party’s constitutional right and predicted a large turnout.

Qureshi said police had closed all city entrances and exits to keep PTI leaders, workers, and supporters from other cities from attending.

PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry called the crackdown on party leaders and workers sabotage of the political gathering.

He called on the entire community, especially Islamic nations, to denounce political workers’ “abductions and killings” during Ramazan.

“Fascist tactics” should make the government “persona non grata,” he said.

Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) warned that TTP leader Mukarram Khurasani planned a rally attack. The CTD warned that the terrorist cell could attack PTI rallies and the Minar-e-Pakistan public rally to cause disruption.

The department said Khurasani and Abdul Wali Khan prepared “25 suicide bombers” after consulting.

Khan was also accused of the Lahore blasts. The rally site and surrounding areas reported internet service disruption.

Separately, a Punjab police spokesperson claimed that security steps had been taken to prevent untoward incidents.

He said checkpoints were set up to keep the city safe, not to block PTI supporters from reaching the gathering. The administration removed all barricades 30 minutes before the rally.