January 29, 2024
By Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE
On Sunday, January 28, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) workers along with those from PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf) held separate protests at the Liberty Roundabout when the police cracked down upon both groups and arrested more than 50.
PTM had held a protest against the arrest of their party leader, Manzoor Pashteen. Not too far away the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf workers had also gathered for a demonstration regarding their election campaign. It was then that the city police cracked down and eventually arrested six workers of PTM and around 50 workers of PTI.
The PTI had begun the protest on the instructions of their party chief Imran Khan who had given a call to take a countrywide rally at 2 pm on Sunday, upon which PTI workers, including women, reached Liberty Chowk.
On the other hand, PTM Lahore also called a protest against the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen.
But even before these rallies began, a large number of police officers and the special Dolphin force were deployed around Liberty.
The police said that Section 144 had been enforced to maintain the law and order situation in Punjab and the permission of the administration and the police was necessary before any rally or protest.
Advocate Salman Akram Raja, the candidate supported by PTI from Constituency 128, while talking to Voicepk said that PTI was not being allowed to conduct election campaigns. “Our banners, and flags are being taken down every day, police are arresting our people, and we have to fight a legal battle. This behavior towards PTI should stop, as everyone has the right to campaign in the elections.”
Moin Wazir, a member of the PTM Lahore, said that on December 4, Manzoor Pashteen had left to participate in the Baloch protest in Turbat after addressing a sit-in in Chaman when he was abducted by unknown persons after which their supporters came to know that he had been sent to Adiala Jail according to an FIR filed in Islamabad. “When we came to Liberty Lahore to protest against this, the police arrested six of our colleagues,” he said.
When asked about the release of the workers, he said, “The police kept our colleagues locked up till late in the night and with the help of our team of lawyers, they were all released around 3 am.”
With only nine days left for the elections in the country, and with election campaigns in full swing, the imposition of Article 144 allows limited freedom of campaigning to a limited number of people. in an oppressive move by the government, protests, rallies, and meetings have been made subject to the permission of the administration and the police.As there are only nine days left for the elections in the country, and with election campaigns in full swing, in such a situation, Article 144 which has been implemented across Punjab, prohibits gatherings of four or more people, limiting freedom of campaigning to a limited number of people. in an oppressive move by the government, protests, rallies, and meetings have been made subject to the permission of the administration and the police.