By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has sought permission from authorities in Rawalpindi and Lahore to hold rallies on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, respectively, warning of nationwide protests if denied.
“PTI has decided to hold political gatherings in Rawalpindi at Liaqat Bagh on Sept. 28 and in Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Oct. 5,” the party said in a statement. “As per the instructions of founding chairman Khan, the party will hold a nationwide protest if permission is not granted.”
The party is trying to ramp up pressure for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been jailed since August last year on multiple charges, including corruption, sedition, and terrorism, which he denies as politically motivated.
In its request to the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner, PTI emphasized its commitment to law and order and cooperation with authorities to ensure a smooth and hassle-free political gathering.
PTI has submitted an application to the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner’s office seeking permission for the rally at Liaquat Bagh or Bhaata Chowk.
The party said denial of its right to hold political gatherings would be tantamount to “violating the basic constitutional principle on which the foundations of a political party rest.”
The party has also petitioned the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench to permit a public gathering in the garrison city. The party has named local authorities, including the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and Home Department, as respondents in its plea. The court has scheduled a hearing for Sept. 26.
The party has struggled to hold rallies nationwide, facing repeated permission denials amid strained ties with the country’s powerful military.
Last week, authorities forcibly dispersed thousands of PTI supporters in the eastern city of Lahore, cutting off electricity to the rally and taking control of the stage after the event ran past its permitted deadline.
The authorities then issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the rally but with 43 stringent conditions to ensure public safety and prevent unrest.
The PTI has faced a crackdown since protesters allegedly linked to the party attacked government and military installations on May 9, 2023, after Khan’s brief arrest in a land graft case. Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested, and many remain behind bars awaiting trial. The military has initiated army court trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
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