LAHORE – Former ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called off its much-touted rally in the provincial capital to express solidarity with the judiciary after party workers clashed with police on Wednesday.
Anti riots personnel used water canons to disperse the charged workers who hurled stones at the police.
PTI chief shared a tweet, suspending the rally after a party worker Ali Bilal was killed by amid clashes with Punjab police. In a tweet, Imran called it shameful and slammed authorities for brutality on unarmed PTI workers who were coming to attend an election rally.
“Pakistan is in the grip of murderous criminals,” Khan said, and further mentioned that the party would file cases against the Punjab IGP, the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) and others for the murder of Ali Bilal.
ہمارےمکمل طور پر نہتے،جانثار اور پرجوش کارکن علی بلال کو پنجاب پولیس نےشہیدکردیا۔انتخابی ریلی میں شرکت کیلئےآنے والےنہتےکارکنان کیساتھ ایسا وحشیانہ سلوک نہایت شرمناک ہے۔پاکستان اس وقت خون کے پیاسےمجرموں کےچنگل میں ہے۔ہم IG، CCPO اور دیگر کیخلاف قتل کے مقدمات درج کروائیں گے۔ pic.twitter.com/HmrreBFslN
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 8, 2023
Chaotic scenes were witnessed in the provincial capital Lahore on Wednesday as police detained scores of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers for violating section 144.
Imran Khan-led former ruling party claimed that its local leaders and activists were held in Lahore as they are scheduled to hold a rally today for a power show. The members were however held as country’s second-largest city had been placed under Section 144 as government restricted all kinds of public gatherings for a period of seven days.
In a notification, the caretaker government imposed a ban on all kinds of gatherings and rallies citing security threats and fears of disruption of traffic as Aurat Marchers and other protesters including Jamat e Islami also staged protests.
Amid the ban, charged workers of PTI were held near Mall Road for violating Section 144. Several arteries leading to Zaman Park residence had been cordoned off to avert clashes. Anti-riot personnel are using water cannons to dispel workers.
Several leaders of Imran Khan shared clips of a water cannon being used to dispel agitators, causing outrage online.
Unarmed women workers of PTI being attacked by water cannons & police attack vehicles parked by the side in a wanton act of destruction. Fascist Mohsin Naqvi gone power crazy. @NasimZehra, your reaction to this display of brute force by 24 channel owner to stop peaceful rally? pic.twitter.com/1ziuZzYULw
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 8, 2023
Amid the crackdown, ousted premier Imran Khan questioned the move, saying PTI launched its election campaign with hardly 55 days left for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Under what law and in brazen contempt of the Supreme Court, the Punjab caretaker government uses massive police violence against unarmed workers to stop our planned rally?” PTI chief asked.
against unarmed workers to stop our planned rally? The only job of Caretakers is to ensure fair & free elections. What they are doing is an assault on rule of law, our Constitution & democracy. Above all, once SC ruling is defied, it is now law of the jungle.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 8, 2023
He slammed the Naqvi-led caretaker setup for assault on rule of law, calling it a law of the jungle.
As opposition leaders questioned the move, several members of the ruling alliance including Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah justified the action, saying several rallies were occurring at the same time.
