Paramilitary troops Rangers have been deployed in Lahore, and several other cities of Punjab to ban political gatherings, protests and rallies amid imposition of Section 144.
The provincial authorities restricted all kind of gatherings in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Attock, and Sargodha. After putting containers, Rangers have been called in to assist police in maintaining law and order.
The deployment comes as Punjab government sought three companies of Rangers. Section 144 will remain in effect for three days in Rawalpindi, Attock, and Sargodha from Friday, October 4 (today), to Sunday, October 6.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf plans to hold protest at Minar-e-Pakistan for ‘independence of judiciary and release of party founder Imran Khan’.
Several PTI leaders have been arrested in metropolis while government declared that it would not tolerate any violation of Section 144 and is, therefore, prepared to clamp down on the protesters.
The government decided to use state machinery and all legal tools to crush the Lahore protest.
As part of its strategy to hold an impressive show at Minar-i-Pakistan, the central PTI leadership had instructed its Lahore chapter not to come to participate in the Islamabad D-Chowk protest on Friday to avoid arrest and save strength for the Lahore power show.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is coordinating with officials for a strong response, deploying Rangers and setting up pickets to block protesters.
