ECP summons meeting after PTI challenges ban on public rally

• ECP will discuss the imposition of Section 144 in Lahore
• PTI has challenged the ban on public gatherings
• PTI called off election rally after the restrictions

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned a meeting on Monday to discuss the imposition of Section 144 in Lahore.

Taking to Twitter, the electoral watchdog said Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has convened a meeting at 10:30 AM tomorrow to discuss the matter.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) approached the electoral watchdog against the ban on public gatherings by the caretaker Punjab government ahead of its scheduled rally.

PTI’s Babar Awan submitted a petition stating that the imposition of Section 144 is “illegal” and should be declared null and void.

الیکشن کمیشن آف پاکستان

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اسلام آباد
12 مارچ، 2023

پنجاب حکومت کی طرف سے دفعہ 144 کے نفاذ اور الیکشن ریلیوں پر پابندی کے حوالے سے پی ٹی آئی کے ڈاکٹر بابر اعوان اور ڈاکٹر یاسمین راشد کی درخواستوں پر چیف الیکشن کمشنر نے کل ساڑھے 10 بجے کمیشن کا اہم اجلاس طلب کرلیا ہے۔ #ECP

— Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL) (@ECP_Pakistan) March 12, 2023

The petition said the Caretaker Punjab government is trying to stop PTI from holding an election rally on the pretext of PSL matches despite having different routes. He said the rally was supposed to end at 5.30 before the match is played.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced to lead a public rally on Sunday (today) in connection with the election campaign for the upcoming elections in Punjab.

The district administration banned public gatherings through the invocation of Section 144 in the provincial capital, citing concerns due to a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match in the city.

to file more sham FIRs against PTI ldrshp & workers & to use as pretext for postponing elections. Elec Schedule has been announced so how can Sec 144 be imposed on pol activity? I AM TELLING ALL PTI WORKERS NOT TO FALL INTO THIS TRAP. Hence we have postponed rally till tomorrow.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 12, 2023

The PTI was compelled to postpone the the party’s election rally, with the PTI chief calling on his workers to “not fall into this trap”.

“It seems again that Section 144 has been imposed illegally solely on the PTI election campaign as all other public activities are ongoing in Lahore,” he said on Twitter.

He said only Zaman Park had been surrounded by containers and a heavy police contingent. He said the Punjab CM and police want to provoke clashes to file more sham FIRs against the PTI leadership and workers and use it as a pretext for postponing elections.

“Election schedule has been announced so how can Section 144 be imposed on political activity? I AM TELLING ALL PTI WORKERS NOT TO FALL INTO THIS TRAP. Hence we have postponed the rally till tomorrow,” he added.

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the party was postponing its rally till tomorrow. “Imran will lead the rally tomorrow from Zaman Park to Data Darbar. Will make a third attempt to carry out a peaceful rally,” he said while speaking to media.

He also announced they will approach the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the decision. He urged party workers to remain peaceful and said that the caretaker government wants to create a clash and have an excuse to arrest PTI activists.

PTI’s Hammad Azhar that the party didn’t want “more bodies to fall”. He alleged that the murder of PTI worker Bilal was covered up, but said that the party wanted a peaceful struggle.

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