LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Monday staged an Independence Day rally despite police resistance and blocking of The Mall from all sides.

Shifting their programme of rally on The Mall to plan `B’, the PTI leaders moved the rally point in front of civil courts and chanted slogans Kon bachaey ga Pakistan – Imran Khan.

The police searched all rally participants including handbags of women lawyers to ensure that no one should carry the PTI flag. Hundreds of PTI workers and lawyers reached the venue and continued holding the public meeting from 3pm to 7pm.

“The police had allowed all political parties including Tehreek-i-Labbaik and PML-N workers to carry their party flags but not the PTI,” said PTI additional general secretary advocate Azeemullah Khan.

PML-N holds cake-cutting events in city

He said the police [allegedly] continued harassing party workers, lawyers and leaders and had placed prison vans on the PTI’s announced Independence Day rally venues. He said the police also picked Daska Bar President Sabir Alam Bhatti. “It is unfortunate that a disciplined force has been converted into a ‘ghunda’ force, which is breaking into residences of citizens and ransacking their household items,” advocate Khan regretted.

Stating the police were supporting the PML-N and Tehreek-i-Labbaik rallies, advocate Khan said let the PTI be allowed to hold a public meeting with Imran Khan’s picture on the stage and the nation would know who was more popular in this country.

The PTI leader said the police had also booked the party workers, who had installed banners bearing inscriptions “Happy Independence Day” on Aug 13 evening. Some banners carried Imran Khan’s picture while others were congratulatory posters.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Moonis Elahi tweeted that Pakistan was created through a democratic movement and its sustainable development and stability was possible only with the best democracy and not with fake political cases, false accusations and forced arrests.

PML-N: The PMLN leaders held Independence Day cake-cutting ceremonies in the city on Monday.

PML-N former mayor Lahore Khawaja Ahmad Hassan organised an event at the party’s Naseerabad office in which the women wing also participated and cut the cake.

PML-N former lawmaker Rabia Farooqi led a woman rally. Holding flags the participants chanted slogans for prosperity of the country and paid tributes to those who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of Pakistan.

In Township, PML-N former lawmakers Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Ali Malik, Khawaja Imran Nazir and Liaquat Kanawal took part in the Independence Day event. Separately, former special assistant to the prime minister Attaullah Tarar spoke on the cake-cutting event and lashed out at the PTI for the May 9 episode. He said some elements tried to make August 14 controversial.

Meanwhile, Governor Balighur Rehman hoisted the Pakistani flag in a ceremony on the occasion of the 76th Independence Day at Governor House.

After the ceremony, the governor mingled with the children and had a lively conversation with them. On this occasion, a special prayer was also offered for the security and stability of the country.

Balighur Rehman while congratulating the entire nation on the Independence Day said that every Pakistani should play his role in the development of the country. He said this day reminded us of the immense sacrifices rendered by our forefathers for a separate homeland. He said today is the day to renew our pledge to forget mutual differences and get united. He reiterated that the challenges facing the country could be overcome only by promoting unity, mutual tolerance and brotherhood. “Today, we have to reaffirm the commitment that we will live up to the guiding principles of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah -- unity, faith and discipline.”

He also paid tributes to the martyrs of armed forces who laid down their lives for the sake of the homeland.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2023