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Rawalpindi police on Saturday blocked the entry and points of the garrison city in an attempt to prevent PTI workers from gathering for a protest at Liaquat Bagh.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had informed at a press conference on Monday that the party would hold a rally in Rawalpindi on Saturday. However, party founder and ex-premier Imran Khan announced on Thursday that his party would not hold the rally, apprehensive that the government would not allow his party to hold the event in the city. He said that instead of a rally, the party would stage protests and PTI lawyers would hold a demonstration outside the Supreme Court.
The Punjab government imposed Section 144 a day ago in the Rawalpindi district for two days, banning public gatherings, as the PTI called on supporters to gather at Liaquat Bagh.
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is a legal provision that empowers district administrations to prohibit an assembly of four or more people in an area for a limited period. It is usually imposed to prevent potential disturbances, maintain law and order, and curb any activities that might escalate into violence.
Dawn.com correspondents present on the scene reported that police placed containers at the Faizabad interchange, Double Road and Saddar, while Islamabad police blocked the Islamabad motorway at Hakla.
The garrison city’s main Muree road, which is a commercial hub, is closed due to the presence of police and blockaded roads.
The Rawalpindi Police posted on social media that security is on high alert and Section 144 is in force in Rawalpindi.
“Illegal assembly or rally is not allowed at any place, legal action will be taken in case of violation,” the post said. “Violators of law and order will be dealt with with iron hands.”
The police added that they led a flag march in the garrison city to “ensure the rule of law”, with the march passing along Rawal Road, Murree Road, Mall Road, Chauhar Chowk and the motorway.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Kamran Asghar reached Liaquat Bagh with the flag march, where a large contingent of police personnel has been deployed.
Former provincial minister and senior PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai told Dawn.com that the Punjab police had blocked the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway at Hazara interchange, halting the entry of PTI workers. He added that police fired tear gas shells at the PTI supporters.
Meanwhile, citizens are not only grappling with blocked roads but mobile phone services have been partially suspended.
We will teach a lesson: Azma Bokhari
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari warned that anybody coming to the province to “cause trouble” would be sternly dealt with.
“The Punjab Police knows how to treat this problem, when he (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur) comes here, we will teach him a lesson.
Addressing a press conference, the minister lashed out at the PTI and CM Gandapur. “The chief minister whose province is plagued by terrorism and other issues is threatening to come to another province and cause trouble,” she said.
“We will not allow you (the PTI) to take shelter under the law or the Constitution or human rights,” she said. “This person (Gandapur) coming to this province to cause trouble will have to face the law. He doesn’t care about Section 144, he only cares about Section 804,” the minister added, referring to Imran’s prisoner number.
Meanwhile, Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, in a dig at the PTI, said: “Lahore rally rejected in Lahore and Rawalpindi rally rejected by the people of Rawalpindi … people trust Maryam Nawaz and satisfied with the performance of their chief minister and reject the politics of anarchy. This is just the beginning.”
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