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LAHORE: The district administration has sealed the area around Minar-e-Pakistan and major roads as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) plans to hold a protest today at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore today.
Following the suit of the federal government, the provincial government has made extensive preparations including placing containers on the city’s entry and exit points and deploying a heavy police contingent along with Rangers to counter PTI protesters.
Lahore Deputy Commissioner has not issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to PTI and has enforced section 144 for six days in the city, slapping a ban on rallies, gatherings, sit-ins, and other political activities.
Lahore-Islamabad motorways have been blocked with containers from several points. Containers have been placed at entry points of the city including Babu Sabu Interchange, Thokar Niaz Baig, and Lahore-Sialkot Motorway.
Faisal Kamran, Punjab Police’s DIG Operations for Lahore, has warned against violation of Section 144 and added that all security arrangements have been completed.
Earlier on Friday, PTI senior leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar announced that the ‘peaceful protest’, scheduled at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore will start on Saturday (tomorrow) at 2 pm.
“The people of Lahore will come out tomorrow and peacefully demonstrate people power for the end of shameless fascism in this country and independent courts,” Hammad Azhar wrote on X.
On the other hand, Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur’s caravan resumed its journey and left for D-Chowk from Brahma Interchange.
According to the details, the obstacles placed at Burhan and Brahma interchanges have been removed.
Section 144 challenged
A citizen, Malik Najiullah, filed a plea in the Lahore High Court against the imposition of Section 144 for six days in the provincial capital.
A petition was filed through Advocate Azhar Siddique which listed the Punjab government and the Lahore deputy commissioner as respondents.
The petition argues that the enforcement of Section 144 of CrPC, which restricts public assembly, is illegal and unconstitutional, as the Constitution grants citizens the right to protest.
Petitioner requested the court to declare the notification about Section 144 in Lahore, null and void, adding that it was imposed only to stop ‘peaceful’ protests announced by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).
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