PTI’s Lahore rally kicks off from Liberty Chowk

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) rally has kicked off from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk to Nasir Bagh In connection with International Labour Day. The rally is being led by former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.

A large crowd surrounded Khan’s vehicle as it reached the starting point of the procession, videos posted by the PTI on Twitter showed.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry shared a video of the procession.

The Lahore administration has given conditional permission to the PTI for holding a procession on Monday (today).

“The permission at the proposed event is being issued after submission of undertaking by the organisers to the effect that in case of any untoward incident he shall be held responsible,” said the NOC issued by Lahore Deputy Commissioner Rafia Haider to PTI’s Hammad Azhar on Sunday.

The former ruling party has announced that it would hold a procession in Peshawar, Islamabad, and Lahore. But the planned demonstration comes just 13 days before the provincial elections.

Khan would lead the procession in Lahore, Shah Mahmood Qureshi in twin cities, and Pervez Khattak in Peshawar.

The NOC was issued subject to 25 conditions, which include a ban on speeches against constitutional offices/armed forces/judiciary.

Haider advised the PTI to take all required precautionary measures on the whole route of the rally for the safety of the participants and the people in view of the “overall security situation and threat alerts”.

But, the country’s top electoral authority – ECP – has directed the PTI to cancel its Lahore rally, scheduled for May 1 (today). The directive was issued as part of its code of conduct for candidates contesting elections to the Punjab Assembly on May 14.

“It is pertinent to mention that for smooth and peaceful elections there is a complete ban on holding public rallies and processions without prior approval of district administration and district monitoring officer,” said the notice issued to PTI chief Imran Khan on Sunday.

The notice, which was issued by District Election Commissioner Abdul Wadood Khan, added that carrying out such rallies was a “sheer violation” of its code of conduct as the political parties and candidates were bound to take prior permission from the district administration and district monitoring officer well in time.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad and Peshawar administrations imposed Section 144 (a ban on the gathering of people, rallies, and processions) in the two cities.

“Indiscriminate legal action will be taken against those who violate the law,” it tweeted. “Citizens entering Islamabad from Faizabad and other routes will be allowed to enter after checking.”

Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Shah Fahad said that the ban was imposed in view of the “critical” security situation. Section 144 would remain in force for three days and the violators will be prosecuted.

“We have only one demand that the election be on time. Today we will take out a rally from Liberty Market, which I will lead myself,” said Khan in a message to party workers.

“We have to stand with the Supreme Court and the Constitution. The whole nation is standing with the SC at this time,” he said and accused the caretaker government of not holding elections.