Qaadirporan Police have arrested Mehar Bano Qureshi, daughter of PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, for breaching Section 144.
Authorities are currently transporting her to the Makhdoom Rasheed police station. Similarly, PTI leaders Mehar Dalair Khan and Zahid Hashmi have also been arrested for the same offence.
This action comes as PTI prepares for a significant rally in Swabi to protest against what they claim was a rigged election on February 8, 2024. In anticipation of PTI’s protest, the Punjab government had proactively imposed Section 144 across the province, banning all forms of political assemblies and demonstrations.
The Home Department of Punjab issued a notification highlighting the ban on gatherings, sit-ins, and other political activities on February 8, 2025, citing potential security threats. The notification, authorized by the secretary of the home department, expressed concerns about possible subversive acts by miscreants exploiting the protests.
A committee has endorsed these restrictions under Section 144. The restrictions aim to protect the public, critical installations, and buildings from potential terrorist or disruptive activities, prioritizing public safety, security, and peace.
Moreover, PTI has declared a nationwide “black day” and plans a public meeting at Minar-e-Pakistan on the same date, marking one year since the contested 2024 general elections.
