PTI demonstration in Lahore comes to a dramatic end after being stopped by city administration at dusk – Pakistan

LAHORE (Dunya News) – The much-awaited show of strength by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Movement (PTI) came to a dramatic end in Lahore as the lights went out shortly after 6 pm.

The DJ’s sound system was also turned off as the deadline had passed.

Dejected PTI activists started leaving the venue as police and district administration took over the scene.

Earlier, a PTI caravan reached Lahore from different parts of the country.

However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur could not reach the venue as his convoy was at Kala Shah Kaku junction when the deadline for the public meeting expired.

Earlier, party activists refused to leave the meeting venue without listening to the speeches of central leaders.

On Saturday, the PTI demonstrated its strength in Lahore’s Kahna district.

Protesters from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, led by provincial chief minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur, moved along the M2 motorway from Islamabad towards Lahore.

A large number of PTI workers from all over Punjab reached Lahore via the expressway and GT road.

Given the pace at which the demonstration was moving, it was easy to predict that it would not end on time, as outlined in the operational procedures communicated by the Deputy Commissioner on Friday evening.

The deputy commissioner announced that the rally must end by 6:00 p.m.

Read also: PTI gets permission to rally in Lahore

Meanwhile, preparations for the rally have been completed. The stage has also been prepared and the sound system has been installed.

Supporters carrying party banners and placards reached the spot. Salman Akram Raja, Mian Azhar and other local leaders reached the spot amid reports of government efforts to place containers.

The district administration has given conditional permission for the rally in Kahna area on Ring Road. The deputy commissioner has already issued an official notification.

WHAT PTI NEEDS TO DO

The district authorities have given permission for PTI to organise a rally from 3pm to 6pm.

According to the notification, the organizers will be responsible for ensuring security in the men’s and women’s zones, managing crowd control and parking with the support of private security and volunteers.

In addition, the Prime Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must apologize for the speech he gave on September 8 in Islamabad.

The notification said groups coming from outside the city should not disrupt daily life. According to the notification, no slogans or statements against the state or institutions will be allowed during the rally.

Furthermore, no defector will be allowed to attend the event or appear on stage; in case of failure to comply with these rules, the organizers will be held legally responsible.

Other conditions include a ban on the display of Afghan flags, the appointment of contact persons with local police and cooperation with the traffic police to develop a detailed traffic plan.

The organizers will also be responsible for setting up barbed wire along the Lahore Ring Road and Kahna to secure the area.

In addition, entry with sticks or weapons is strictly prohibited. The use of fireworks and incendiary slogans is prohibited, and burning effigies or flags of any political or religious group will not be tolerated.

The district authorities stressed that the organizers are responsible for security in and around the assembly and will be held liable for any unforeseen incidents.

Taking into account the overall security situation and potential threats, organisers are requested to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of participants and the public.

A caravan from Peshawar, led by the Kuomintang prime minister, is also expected to arrive in Lahore to join the rally.

LHC DIRECTION TO ADMIN

Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had directed the deputy commissioner to take a decision on the PTI rally by 5 pm on Friday.

The directive was issued during the hearing on a petition filed by PTI leaders Aliya Hamza and Sheikh Imtiaz Mehmood seeking permission to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan.

The case was heard by Justices Muhammad Tariq Nadeem and Farooq Haider.