LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has launched its mass contact campaign to muster support for the much-hyped Lahore power show at the Minar-i-Pakistan ground.

Different party leaders including parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Ali Imtiaz Warraich, advocate Ali Ijaz Butter, mother of incarcerated Zubair Khan Niazi and Sharjeel Khan Niazi organised corner meetings in their respective constituencies, including NA-130 contested by incarcerated Dr Yasmin Rashid.

The party leaders and workers vowed to throng the Lahore power show venue on Sept 21 (Saturday).

The PTI leaders have also prepared a four-page pamphlet paying tribute to party heroes and inviting the public to participate in the Sept 21 public meeting during a door-to-door campaign.Meanwhile, various party leaders including Sanam Javed, Rehana Imtiaz Dar, Mehr Sharafat Ali, Farrukh Javed Moon and Mian Awais Anjum have recorded video messages and posted them on social media and other platforms including WhatsApp groups.

Court moved to disallow rally

In her message, Sanam Javed said party founder Imran Khan had asked the masses to come out of their homes and participate in the party’s power show. She said this was a great opportunity for the Lahorites and Punjabis to support Imran Khan as they came out in droves on Feb 8 and voted for the candidates chosen by Imran Khan.

“It is high time that people raised their voice to retrieve their stolen mandate and for the future of the younger generations,” she said.

PTI leader Rehana Imtiaz Dar urged the masses to participate in the Lahore jalsa as they had reached Islamabad to attend the PTI’s power show there.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court has been requested to order the government and the police not to permit Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to hold a public rally in Punjab.

A citizen, Mirza Wahid Rafiq, filed a writ petition through Advocate Nadeem Sarwar citing hate speeches made by the PTI leaders at a previous rally held in Islamabad.

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The petition reproduces the speeches delivered by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, former federal minister Hammad Azhar, who is a proclaimed offender in May 9 cases, and other leaders.

The petitioner states that there is a likelihood that similar hate speeches may be delivered in upcoming rallies of the PTI.

The petitioner says that PTI has been planning to hold a rally in Lahore, despite having no permission from the authorities concerned.

He argues that the PTI is misusing the privileges granted under the Constitution.

The petitioner requests the court to order the Punjab government, the deputy commissioner of Lahore and the IGP to restrain the PTI from holding any jalsa anywhere in the province particularly in the provincial capital.

He alleges that absconders and anti-state elements deliver speeches at the PTI rallies under the garb of fundamental rights.

The petitioner also urges the court for a strict action against PTI if it holds a jalsa without permission from the government.

ARRESTS: Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Ahmed Khan Bhachar has approached the Lahore High Court against the alleged arrest of PTI workers ahead of the party’s planned rally in the city.

The petition states that the PTI is scheduled to hold a rally in Lahore on Sept 21. However, it alleges, the police have started making arrests before the rally.

The petition argues that holding a rally is a constitutional and legal right of any political party, and the PTI should not be deprived of this right. It asks the court to issue an order to stop the arrest of PTI members.

Justice Farooq Haider will hear both petitions on Thursday (today) along with other petitions filed by PTI former MNA Aliya Hamza and others against the denial of permission to hold a public rally on Sept 21.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2024