Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), postponed his election rally in Lahore on Sunday after the interim government refused to lift Section 144 in the provincial capital.
Using Twitter, the PTI president asserted that Section 144 was “illegally enforced specifically on the PTI election campaign” in Lahore, notwithstanding other continuing public events.
“Only Zaman Park is surrounded by containers and a large police force. Clearly, like on 8 March, the Punjab CM and police want to provoke conflicts in order to file more bogus FIRs against PTI leadership and workers and to use this as an excuse to delay elections, “the former prime minister stated.
The leader of the PTI questioned how Section 144 could be enforced in the provincial capital despite the announcement of election dates.
“I am warning all PTI employees to avoid this trap. We have thus postponed the gathering until tomorrow, “said the PTI leader.
Later, at a news conference, the leader of the PTI, Hammad Azhar, stated that the rally had been postponed and suggested that it could be “held tomorrow or at a later date.”
“We desire peaceful elections and a peaceful transfer of power, and it is probable that tomorrow’s rally may take place,” Azhar said, adding that the authorities should open the highways.
The Election Commission of Pakistan rendered the judgment after PTI challenged the Section 144 ban enforced by the Punjab government in Lahore (ECP).
PTI leader Babar Awan filed the petition with the ECP on Imran Khan’s directions.
Saturday night, the Punjab government reaffirmed its intention to impose Section 144 (banning large gatherings) in Lahore to prevent “untoward acts.”
This is the second time in less than a week that the interim government has imposed this limitation before the party’s election rally; the party has harshly criticized the caretaker government for being “biased.”
According to the appeal, the ECP should halt the application of Section 144 since it is illegal.
It was stated that the Punjab administration violated Paragraph 15 of the Supreme Court’s ruling by implementing Section 144. In addition, the petition states that the itineraries of the march and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match are distinct.
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