LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a petition in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), challenging imposition of Section 144 in Lahore ahead of their rally planned for Sunday.
بریکنگ
ڈاکٹر بابر اعوان تحریک انصاف کی ریلی کے خلاف دفعہ 144 کو چیلنج کرنے الیکشن کمیشن پہنچ گئے pic.twitter.com/82Vd1xPwbY— MM News (@mmnewsdottv) March 12, 2023
Also read: Caretaker Punjab govt imposes section 144 in Lahore, yet again
Acting on the directives of party Chairman Imran Khan, prominent lawyer Babar Awan prepared and filed a petition to challenge Section 144 imposed in Lahore late last night.
بریکنگ
عمران خان کی بابر اعوان کو دفعہ 144 کو الیکشن کمیشن میں چیلنج کرنے ہدایت
عمران خان کی ہدایت پر بابر اعوان نے پٹیشن تیار کرلی pic.twitter.com/e0z31mFNFX— MM News (@mmnewsdottv) March 12, 2023
It is pertinent to mention here that President Arif Alvi had announced setting April 30 as the day of elections for Punjab Assembly, yet the caretaker government, whose only objective was supposed to facilitate holding free and fair elections, didn’t seem to be taking a single step in that direction.
Also read: PTI’s Arsalan Taj arrested after alleging deal between PPP, JI
In its petition, the PTI alleged that the caretaker government of Punjab, in blatant violation of ECP code of conduct and relevant orders, has directed DC Lahore to impose Section 144 in order to stop PTI rally in the city.
The party stated that it was second time since the announcement of election schedule, Punjab interim government had led to this ‘fascist’ tactic to stop PTI to do electoral/political activity.
That on 8 March Punjab Interim Government ordered to ban rallies led to a police operation on workers of PTI, this led to Shahadat of Zil e Shah and scores were injured, the petition says, adding that Punjab Interim Government/CM/Cabinet wants to repeat same events even now and this high handedness may lead to Lego constitutional crises and political instability.
Also read: Every party has right to run election campaign: PTI
It further states that PTI rally is starting in Lahore at 2 Pm toady and whereas the PSL match is scheduled for 7 Pm. PTI rally will be done and closed at 5:30 for which rally route is completely different from PSL. match. In this regard the Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan have already issued directions to the Federal Government, Interim Government of Punjab in the case for holding of the election within 90 days.
The PTI prayed that the Section 144 be set aside, and political parties be allowed to carry out their pre-election activities freely.
