PTI leaders were adamant on Friday about proceeding with their planned power show on November 24, despite the fact that they were confronted with obstacles such as prohibitions on gatherings in Islamabad and Punjab, as well as a court order declaring their protest “illegal.”
Imran Khan, the PTI founder and former prime minister, has issued a “final call” for nationwide demonstrations on Nov. 24 protest (Sunday). In his statement, he denounced the stolen mandate, the unjust arrests of individuals, and the passage of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed strengthened a “dictatorial regime.”
Aliya Hamza Malik, a former PTI MNA who is currently on bail, reiterated that the decision to conduct a Nov. 24 protest on remains unchanged.
Malik informed Dawn.com that the remaining leaders are currently in a meeting with [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin] Gandapur, and a portion of them are incarcerated in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Imran is currently being held.
Sayed Zulfi Bukhari, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), responded to Dawn.com by stating, “Yes, we are fully committed to continuing with our protest plans.”
Today, a statement was published on Imran’s X account, stating that Nov. 24 was “the day to break free from slavery.”
“The nation is compelled to protest and make sacrifices in Pakistan due to the suspension of the rule of law, Constitution, and human rights.” “The nation must determine whether to don the crown of freedom or the yoke of slavery,” the statement stated.”
He expressed optimism that the protest would be successful and advised the public to remain focused on Sunday.
Section 144 was implemented in Punjab from Saturday to Monday.
Public gatherings have been prohibited in Islamabad for an additional two months and in Rawalpindi until November 26 in anticipation of the PTI’s protest.
Today, a comparable prohibition was implemented in Punjab for a period of three days, from Saturday to Monday, in accordance with Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Section 144 is a legal provision that allows district administrations to temporarily prohibit the assembly of four or more individuals in a specific area. It is typically implemented to prevent potential disturbances, preserve law and order, and restrict any activities that could potentially escalate into violence.
Dawn.com has obtained a copy of the Punjab Home Department’s notification, which prohibits “all forms of political assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations, jalsas, protests, and similar activities” throughout the province.
The order stated that there is a concern that miscreants or mischief-mongers may exploit the aforementioned protest to conduct subversive or anti-state activities in order to achieve their pernicious objectives.
It was observed that the 18th meeting of the Standing Committee of Cabinet on Law and Order recommended the imposition of the aforementioned restrictions “in the context of the current wave of terrorism.”
The ban was intended to safeguard the security of individuals and installations/buildings from any potential terrorist or unsavory activity, according to the notification.
It referred to the imposition of Section 144 as a “rapid remedy to prevent disturbance of public peace” and to guarantee the “safety of lives and property of the public, and tranquility in the province of Punjab.”
Separately, the deputy inspector general of the police’s office in Lahore requested that the Ring Road Authority commandant close the road from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. This decision was made in anticipation of the expected law and order situation, which is expected to result in agitation, protests, and gatherings in the city over the weekend.
“The law and order situation may be exacerbated by the miscreants and troublemakers, who may cause damage to public and private property.”
The request stated that the Lahore police is responsible for the welfare and security of the general public and private/public property.
