The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) challenged Section 144 imposed by the Punjab government in Lahore in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ahead of its election rally in the provincial capital on Sunday.
PTI leader Babar Awan filed an application in the ECP on the instructions of party chairman Imran Khan.
The Punjab government on Saturday night once again announced the imposition of Section 144 (ban on large gatherings) in Lahore to prevent any “unpleasant incidents”.
It is the second time in less than a week that the interim government has imposed the ban ahead of the party’s election rally – which has drawn criticism from the caretaker set-up for being “partial”.
The petition said that the implementation of Section 144 of the ECP should be struck down as it is illegal.
It said that by imposing Article 144, the Punjab government is violating Para 15 of the Supreme Court order. The petition also said that the routes for the rally and Pakistan Super League (PSL) match are different.
“The PTI rally will end at 5:30 pm while the PSL will start at 7 pm,” he said, adding that Section 144 had never been imposed in any city between PSL matches.
The petition stated that the election campaign is the constitutional right of PTI and the provincial government is illegally stopping the campaign.
Speaking to the media later, Awan reiterated that the timings and routes of the match and the rally are different.
“The imposition of Section 144 on the entire city is not justified and the caretaker government decided to impose the ban using PSL as a pretext,” he said.
He further said that Khan wants to hold a rally because it is the constitutional right of the party.
PTI leader Yasmin Rashid has also submitted a petition to the ECP office in Lahore against the provincial government’s decision to ban meetings.
ECP summons meeting
Meanwhile, admitting that he has received PTI’s requests, the ECP said that Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has called for a meeting at 10:30 am tomorrow.
الیکشن کمیشن آف پاکستان
— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL) (@ECP_Pakistan) March 12, 2023
اسلام آباد
12 مارچ، 2023
پنجاب حکومت کی طرف سے دفعہ 144 کے نفاذ اور الیکشن ریلیوں پر پابندی کے حوالے سے پی ٹی آئی کے ڈاکٹر بابر اعوان اور ڈاکٹر یاسمین راشد کی درخواستوں پر چیف الیکشن کمشنر نے کل ساڑھے 10 بجے کمیشن کا اہم اجلاس طلب کرلیا ہے۔ #ECP
‘No ban on political activities’
On the other hand, Punjab Interim Chief Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi said that there is no restriction on political activities and parties are allowed to conduct free election campaigns.
However, he said the government has restricted rallies and political activities for today due to PSL.
There is NO Ban on political activities. All political parties are freely allowed to campaign. We have restricted Rallies and Political activities for today as we have PSL Cricket Match, team movements and Marathon in Lahore which were all planned and announced much in advance
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) March 12, 2023
Khan to lead rally himself
A day ago, the former prime minister had said that he would lead the rally himself.
“I will lead the election rally to show them that we are not pets,” the former prime minister told his party workers during his address via video link.
Speaking to his party workers, Khan said the “powerful” sections wanted to cancel the upcoming general elections in Punjab and KP at all costs.
“They will try to cancel the elections by killing him or using bomb blasts […] I know they will do anything to stop the elections,” the PTI chairman added. added.
The general elections in Punjab will be held on April 30, while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the election date is yet to be announced as Governor Ghulam Ali has not decided.
During a PTI rally on Wednesday, clashes broke out between party workers and the Punjab Police, in which several people were injured.
Meanwhile, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi directed the party workers to reach Zaman Park despite the ban. He said that Imran Khan will lead the rally today as decided in the meeting.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the date of the elections has been announced, so it is not permissible to stop them from holding the rally.
