LAHORE: The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has questioned the use of force against party workers in order to thwart their planned rally near Zaman Park, Lahore on Wednesday.
Also read: Minutes before PTI’s rally, Punjab govt immediately bans gatherings in Lahore
His remarks came after Punjab Police launched a massive crackdown and arrested dozens of workers from surroundings of his Lahore residence of Zaman Park within minutes after the caretaker government of CM Mohsin Naqvi imposed section 144, banning all types of rallies and gatherings.
Also read: Lahore Police launch crackdown against PTI workers near Zaman Park
Videos uploaded on social media showed a number of workers were being thrashed, while cops were hitting hard at multiple vehicles near Zaman Park. Several PTI workers were injured in the police action, and some of them seriously due to massive bleeding.
Also read: PTI questions ban on rallies in Lahore ahead of April 30 elections
Taking to Twitter, Imran Khan recalled that the 5-judges bench of Supreme Court ordered elections to be held in Punjab and KP within 90 days and asking President to announce date which he did – April 30. Khan asked that with hardly 55 days left, PTI kicked off election rally in Lahore, questioning “under what law, and in brazen contempt of SC, Punjab Caretaker govt uses massive police violence against unarmed workers to stop our planned rally?”
SC 5-mbr bench orders elections in Punjab & KP in 90 days, asking President to announce date which he does – 30 April. With hardly 55 days left, PTI kicks off election rally in Lahore. Under what law, & in brazen contempt of SC, Punjab Caretaker govt uses massive police violence
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 8, 2023
He further said “the only job of Caretakers is to ensure fair and free elections. What they are doing is an assault on rule of law, our Constitution & democracy. Above all, once SC ruling is defied, it is now law of the jungle.”
