PTI holds protest rallies in Punjab cities, faces police crackdown for violating Section 144

Punjab police on Wednesday arrested over 500 supporters and lawmakers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as the Imran Khan-founded staged protest rallies in different cities by violating Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

A day earlier, the PTI founder — who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail in multiple cases — issued a call for nationwide protests, urging supporters to rally for the judiciary's independence.

Meanwhile, the PML-N-led Punjab government imposed Section 144, banning public gatherings in Mianwali, Bahawalpur and Faisalabad.

According to the notifications, the current law and order situation poses a “soft target” for miscreants, creating a serious security risk. The imposition of Section 144 is intended to prevent public unrest, ensuring the safety of lives and property in the districts. The directives prohibit all forms of public gatherings, including political assemblies, sit-ins, protests and rallies.

PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram had announced that despite the imposition of Section 144, his party would hold protests in Multan, Mianwali, and Faisalabad.

He said: "It is our duty to come out for the independence of the judiciary."

The police launched a massive crackdown against the PTI workers as they took to the streets in different cities to record their protest.

In Faisalabad, the police restored to tear gas shelling to disperse PTI supporters. As many as 500 supporters and 9 MPAs of the former ruling party were taken into custody in the city.    

Those arrested include MPA Nadeem Sadiq Dogar, MPA Khayal Ahmad Kastro, and MPA Javed Niaz Manj among others.

PTI’s behavior’s is not political  

Reacting to the PTI’s protest, Prime Minister's Adviser on Public and Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that PTI’s behaviour was "not political".

"[The] PTI didn't maintain a posture [as a political party], neither in the government nor in the opposition," the federal minister said while slamming the former ruling party for organising long marches and sit-ins.

While speaking on Geo News' programme 'Geo Pakistan', he said that PTI wants "anarchy, violence and unrest" in the country and it is important for the law and democracy to stop the party.

Sanaullah went on to say that the Imran Khan-founded party is not willing to accept or sit with anyone else.

"PTI will not adopt a democratic behaviour under any circumstance, which is not acceptable," he added.

Taking a swipe at Imran Khan-founded party, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that nobody in his province took to the streets on the call of PTI.

She alleged that PTI brings people from KP for protest in Punjab. Criticising Khan’s politics, the chief minister said that the incarcerated former prime minister never took any measure to facilitate the masses.

“I always heard that they set fire, smash heads of policemen,” the chief minister said referring to the PTI.