According to police, several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members were detained in the provincial capital’s Zaman Park neighbourhood for breaking Section 144.
After the Punjab Home Department imposed Section 144 prohibiting public rallies in advance of the PTI’s campaign rally and the Aurat March slated for today, the party workers were arrested in the Zaman Park neighbourhood near PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s residence.
Following the declaration of the prohibition, It is reported that some PTI employees were detained by police on Mall Road for breaching Section 144. The PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park mansion, he added, had all access roads blocked.
The correspondent further claimed that police officers broke out the windows of PTI employees’ cars in addition to using water cannons to chase them away.
The Home Department observed that several rallies and protests are organised there daily at various locations in Lahore, which not only pose severe security dangers but also impede traffic and disturb the general people, according to a notification released today.
It was stated that there was a history of terrorist activity during the demonstrations and protests where many police officers and citizens had accepted shahadat.
“Hence, in the context of the prevailing overall security situation in the wake of the recent wave of terrorism and latest threat alerts, it has been necessary to impose Section 144 of Cr. P.C, 1898 on holding of all kinds of assemblies, gatherings, sits-in, rallies, processions, demonstrations, jalsas, dharnas, protests and such like other activities across the district Lahore to avert any untoward incident,” according to notification added issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Shakeel Ahmed.
In the wider interest of public safety, security, peace, and serenity, the directive noted that it is imperative to ensure the protection of the people and installations/buildings against any potential terrorist or nefarious activities due to the threats currently in place.
