• PTI has challenges closure of roads and imposition of Section 144
• Punjab Home Department imposed Section 144 in Lahore
• Police arrested PTI workers and resorted to tear gas shelling

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has challenged the closure of roads and imposing of Section 144 in Lahore ahead of its rally in Lahore High Court (LHC).

An application has been filed in the high court by PTI Lahore President Sheikh Imtiaz Mehmood through his lawyer Waqar Mushtaq challenging the hurdles created in holding the rally. The Punjab government, Deputy Commissioner and CCPO Lahore have been made parties in the application.

The petition said PTI has obtained a permit from the district administration for the election campaign. It said the set to hold a rally in the provincial capital before the measures were taken by local authorities.

Even before taking out a rally for the election campaign, police took an illegal action by blocking the roads, the petitioner said, adding that police tortured political workers and fired tear gas.

It maintained that peaceful protest is the fundamental right of every citizen. It urged the court to declare the action of road closure and tear gas shelling by the administration as illegal.

PTI had announced launching the election campaign from Lahore in a public gathering with a rally led by Imran Khan. The rally was supposed to be held Zaman Park to Data Darbar.

Imran Khan will address the rally at Data Darbar and announce his future line of action. Senior PTI leaders, including newly-appointed President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, are also likely to attend the rally.

Ahead of the rally, Police arrested several PTI workers for violating Section 144. The party workers were taken into custody from the Zaman Park area

Another protest was held near the Mall Road Underpass where police started baton charge on the workers gathered for the rally. Police resorted to shelling tear gas and also used water cannons to disperse the PTI workers including women.

Punjab Home Department imposed Section 144 banning public rallies ahead of the PTI’s election rally

The Home Department observed that number of rallies and protests are held on daily basis at different places of Lahore, which not only pose serious security threats but also disrupt traffic and cause inconvenience to public at large.

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