‘Kanpen tang rahi hain': KP CM slams imposition of Section 144 ahead of PTI march

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday slammed the federal and Punjab governments for closing motorways and imposing Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) ahead of the PTI’s “do-or-die” protest.

His remarks came after a spokesperson of the Motorway Police announced that five motorways, including M-I and M-II, would be closed for traffic from 8pm tonight for repair work.

Reacting to the strict measures to deal with the PTI’s “final call” for countrywide protests slated to be held on November 24, CM Gandapur said: “Imposition of Section 144 and closure of hotels in Punjab proves ‘Un ki kanpen tang rahi hain’ [their legs are shivering].”

It is pertinent to mention here that public gatherings have been banned in Islamabad for two more months and in Rawalpindi till November 26. Similar restrictions were announced in Punjab today for three days starting from Saturday under Section 144.

In addition to this, the provincial home department requisitioned the services of Pakistan Rangers Punjab in three districts of the province — Rawalpindi, Attock, and Jhelum.

The governments in the Centre and Punjab closed motorways and highways leading to Islamabad in “bafflement,” he took a dig at the ruling PML-N.

“We are in the preparation stage,” the PTI firebrand leader said, adding that the government made their protest successful by blocking the whole country.

The chief minister claimed that their “do-or-die” would be peaceful. He accused the federal movement of creating problems for the masses by shutting down the country.

“PTI founder’s protest call threw the government in disarray.” The chief minister said a prisoner made the rulers dance to his tune ahead of the nationwide protest.

Reacting to the PTI’s protest call, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah said: “They [PTI] gave a missed call. Their protest will fail.”

He dared the PTI to book five buses from any district in Punjab and asked, “How will they bring people [to the streets]?”

Last week, incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, who has been behind bars since August last year, gave a “final call” for a nationwide protest against the alleged rigging in the February 8 elections, arrests of party workers, and the passage of the 26th Amendment. He called on his supporters to march to Islamabad on the upcoming Sunday.