https://arab.news/v2arf
- Opposition parties, including ex-PM Khan’s PTI, have announced protests today for release of members as well as against inflation and worsening law and order
- Authorities have imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a provision that restricts an assembly of four or more people, in Punjab and Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Authorities have banned political or any other gatherings in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province and the federal capital of Islamabad, amid protest calls by opposition parties over a host of issues.
The development came after former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced a nationwide protest today, Friday, for the release of Khan and other PTI members, as well as against inflation and worsening law and order situation in the country.
Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chief PkMAP Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who leads the opposition alliance known as Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), also announced a major protest for the release of political prisoners on Friday, with support from Jamiat Ulema Islam.
In order to keep various opposition groups from moving forward with their protests plans, the government in Punjab has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a provision that allows administrations to prohibit assembly of four or more people, till July 28.
“It has been observed that in view of prevailing law and order situation and security threats, any political gathering/assembly is likely to provide soft target to terrorists and miscreants, which not only pose serious security threats, but is also likely to cause threat to public peace and order,” the Punjab home department said in a notification.
“Therefore, Government of Punjab, in exercise of powers vested under Section (144) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, hereby prohibits all kinds of political assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations, jalsas, protests and such other activities across Punjab with immediate effect from 26th to 28th July, 2024.”
Separately, the Islamabad police said on X that the federal capital administration had imposed Section 144 and no gathering would be allowed without permission.
The statement followed an announcement by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) religious party for a sit-in in Islamabad on July 26 to demand a reduction in power tariff, withdrawal of slab system for electricity consumers, and review of agreements with independent power producers.
JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman this week told the media that their sit-in was “for the rights of the people, against inflation, and unjust taxes imposed in the recent budget.”
The developments come at a time of renewed political tensions between the government and opposition parties, particularly Khan’s PTI party. The ex-premier has been in jail since August last year, even though all four convictions handed down to him ahead of a parliamentary election in February have either been suspended or overturned.
After being acquitted on the last of those four convictions, authorities rearrested Khan and his wife in an old corruption case on charges of selling state gifts unlawfully. He also faces an accusation of inciting his supporters to attack military installations in May last year. Khan denies all the accusations.
The tensions rose after police raided the headquarters of Khan’s party in Islamabad earlier this week. The PTI’s senior media manager, Ahmed Waqas Janjua, and Information Secretary Raoof Hassan were arrested by authorities on accusations they were pushing an “anti-state narrative” to undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty.