LAHORE: The Home Department of the caretaker government of Punjab has requisitioned deployment of Rangers in Lahore for 10 days ahead of PTI’s rally planned to be taken out later today (Sunday).
The letter to this effect surfaced at a time when PTI challenged imposition of Section 144 in Lahore by the caretaker set up late last night. The party has already challenged Section 144 in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
In its petition, the PTI prayed to the ECP to set aside Section 144 and let the political parties conduct their pre-election activities.
Also read: PTI files petition in ECP to challenge Section 144 in Lahore
The caretaker Punjab government late last night, it may be recalled here, had imposed Section 144 in Lahore yet again, minutes after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman announced the rally to re-start his election campaign which was thwarted on March 8 by a massive police crackdown in what appeared to be re-enactment of last year’s May 25 onslaught, claiming life of one PTI worker Ali Bilal aka Zille Shah.
Also read: Caretaker Punjab govt imposes section 144 in Lahore, yet again
According to the letter, copy of which is available with MM News, three companies of the Rangers Punjab have been sought for a period of 10 day, effective immediately till March 22, 2023, providing legal cover of Section 4(2) & 5 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, and Section 7(b) and Section 10 Pakistan Rangers Ordinance 1959.
