Lahore: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan Saturday postponed PTI’s election rally after the caretaker provincial government “illegally” imposed Section 144 in the city, calling it a “trap” and advising all party workers not to fall into the trap.
Last night, the PTI chief announced a fresh rally in Lahore today — days after the interim setup cracked down on the party’s March 8 election rally.
Soon after the announcement, the district administration banned public gatherings through the invocation of Section 144 in the Punjab capital, citing concerns in the wake of a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match in the city.
In a series of tweets, the PTI chairman stated that the imposition of Section 144 in the city seemed solely on the PTI’s election campaign as all other public activities continued in Lahore.
to file more sham FIRs against PTI ldrshp & workers & to use as pretext for postponing elections. Elec Schedule has been announced so how can Sec 144 be imposed on pol activity? I AM TELLING ALL PTI WORKERS NOT TO FALL INTO THIS TRAP. Hence we have postponed rally till tomorrow.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 12, 2023
“Only Zaman Park has been surrounded by containers & heavy police contingent. Clearly, like 8 March, Punjab CM & police want to provoke clashes to file more sham FIRs against PTI [leardrship] & workers & to use [them] as pretext for postponing elections,” Imran Khan said.
“Election schedule has been announced so how can Section 144 be imposed on political activity? I AM TELLING ALL PTI WORKERS NOT TO FALL INTO THIS TRAP. Hence we have postponed the rally till tomorrow,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the former ruling party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), moved the Election Commission of Pakistan, challenging Section 144 imposed in the provincial capital, Lahore, ahead of its election rally.
PTI moves ECP challenging Section 144 in Lahore ahead of election rally
In its petition, the PTI stated that in “blatant violation of ECP Code of Conduct”, the caretaker government of Punjab had directed the provincial authorities to impose Section 144 in the city to stop the PTI’s rally.
The PTI called the action a “fascist tactic” to stop the largest political party in the country to do electoral/political activity.
