LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf parliamentarians on Wednesday defied section 144 and rallied from the Punjab Assembly to Regal Chowk demanding release of party’s founding chairman Imran Khan and all other incarcerated party leaders and workers.

“This is the formal launching of a long-drawn protest movement that will also feature a long march in the days to come,” said opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar while leading the protest march.

A heavy contingent of police was present, ‘guarding’ the rally. Though a police van was brought to the Regal Chowk, the police did not take any parliamentarian into custody.

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The parliamentarians carrying party flags chanted slogans.

Mr Bhachar told the media that the party leaders and workers had shunned fear and took to the streets.

He said the protests would continue till the release of Imran Khan and other incarcerated party leaders and workers.

Meanwhile, PTI chairman Gohar Khan also led a rally of national assembly parliamentarians from Lahore High Court and joined the Punjab Assembly members at the Regal Chowk.

Speaking to Dawn, a PTI leader said the party was watching whether the police would lodge FIRs against parliamentarians for marching on The Mall in violation of section 144.

It may be mentioned that the Punjab government had on June 21 imposed section 144, banning rallies, processions, protests and sit-ins across the province for seven days.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2024