By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Lahore is on high alert as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party prepares to defy a government ban and hold a protest on Saturday, setting the stage for a potential showdown between security forces and supporters demanding the release of party founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Authorities have tightened security measures in Lahore, deploying shipping containers to block access to Minar-e-Pakistan, the designated venue for a planned protest by the PTI.
The Punjab government has imposed Section 144, banning all kinds of political assemblies, gatherings, rallies, and protests, in Lahore, Mianwali, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, and Attock. The ban will remain in force in Lahore until Oct 8, Mianwali until Oct 7, and in Rawalpindi, Sargodha, and Attock until Oct 6.
Pillion riding has been banned in Rawalpindi and Attock for Friday and Saturday. Nine companies of paramilitary Rangers have been deployed in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Attock to maintain order.
In a crackdown on PTI workers, the provincial government has picked up around 600 party workers since Wednesday during police raids on their homes and offices. All police stations in Lahore have been put on high alert and instructed to patrol and arrest those found violating the ban on gatherings.
A determined PTI has dubbed its upcoming Lahore programme a “do or die” event, but the government is equally resolute in its efforts to thwart the protest. Following successful blockades of PTI protesters in Rawalpindi and other districts, the government has decided to employ state machinery and legal tools to quash the Lahore demonstration [2).
As part of its strategy, PTI’s central leadership instructed its Lahore chapter to skip the Islamabad D-Chowk protest on Friday, aiming to avoid arrests and conserve strength for the Lahore power show.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, held marathon meetings with the chief secretary, home secretary, and inspector-general of police (IGP), asking them for a strong crackdown against PTI supporters taking to the streets.
A Central Control Room established at the home department continued monitoring PTI workers’ movement on Friday and will do so on Saturday. The government has decided not to place containers at the entry and exit points of Lahore but plans to set up pickets and deploy Rangers to block protesters. However, reports suggest containers will be placed at the entry and exit points.
“We will not tolerate any violation of Section 144,” Dawn newspaper quoted a senior police officer as saying. “Police have been authorized to arrest protesters and those found marching in groups.”
PTI Punjab acting president Hammad Azhar, in hiding, urged supporters on X (formerly Twitter) to “come out in droves and reject this fascist government’s oppression.”
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