ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government announced on Thursday that it has banned public gatherings in the eastern city of Lahore for six days to maintain law and order, days before former prime minister Imran Khan’s party planned protest in the city.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party plans to protest in Lahore on Saturday against the government’s proposed constitutional amendments, which the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denies are meant to suppress judicial independence, and also demand his release from prison.
Section 144 is a legal provision that allows a ban on the gathering of more than four people on account of security threats. The Punjab government this week imposed the provision in Bahawalpur, Faisalabad and Mianwali cities in the province ahead of demonstrations by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Wednesday.
Social media footage showed clashes breaking out between Khan supporters and police, who fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
“The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 in Lahore for six days from today to Tuesday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The state media said that political gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations, protests and similar activities are banned under the provision.
“The decision was made to maintain law and order and to protect human lives and property,” the state broadcaster said.
The PTI is scheduled to hold another demonstration at the Democracy Chowk (D-Chowk) in Pakistan’s capital on Friday. The public square is situated near key government buildings in Islamabad, making it a place where political demonstrations and protests are frequently held.
PREVIOUS PTI PROTESTS
The garrison city of Rawalpindi, bordering the federal capital of Islamabad, remained tense last Saturday as police fired tear gas shells to disperse hundreds of Khan supporters ahead of a protest in the city to demand the release of Khan, who has been in jail since August last year on multiple charges that he says are politically motivated to keep him and his party out of politics.
After a PTI rally in Islamabad on Sept. 8, over a dozen legislators from the party were arrested on charges of violating an agreement based on which permission for the gathering was issued, including abiding by a time limit and supporters sticking to certain routes to reach the designated venue for the rally on Islamabad’s outskirts.
Khan’s party says the challenges in holding rallies are part of an over-year-long crackdown it has faced since protesters allegedly linked to the party attacked and damaged government and military installations on May 9, 2023, after the former premier’s brief arrest the same day in a land graft case.
Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots and many remain behind bars as they await trial. The military, which says Khan and his party were behind the attacks, has also initiated army court trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
Khan, who has been in jail since last August, was ousted from the PM’s office in 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence after what is widely believed to be a falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military, which denies being involved in politics.