PTI seeks ECP's action against Section 144 in Lahore

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Sunday directed party lawyer Babar Awan to move the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the Punjab caretaker government's decision to impose a ban on public gatherings. According to the PTI, the ban is "illegal". It maintains that by imposing Section 144 in Lahore, the interim government is violating para 15 of the Supreme Court's orders, and that campaigning is a constitutional right of the party. Further, the party has stressed that the venue and time of its rally do not clash with any other pre-scheduled events, in particular the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) match that is to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium today. It may be noted here that earlier, in a late-night development on Saturday, the provincial government had imposed Section 144 in the provincial capital for a day – Sunday – warning that the restriction could be extended if the situation “went out of control”. In a news conference, Caretaker Punjab Minister for Information Amir Mir had urged the PTI chairman not to “take the law into his hands”. Read PTI lashes out at Punjab CM, IGP for terming death of worker 'accident' He had said Section 144 was being enforced in Lahore, adding that no one would be allowed to take out a rally or hold a public gathering. He had noted that an HBL PSL match, marathon and a cycle race were also scheduled to be held in the city on Sunday (today), saying these events would be organised as they were planned a month ago. Amir had said Imran had “all of a sudden” announced his political rally despite the holding of these events. He had cited the security of the cricket teams as one of the main reasons for the imposition of Section 144. He had recalled that earlier too, the PTI had announced holding a rally though the Aurat March and a match were already planned. Read More PTI delegation meets CEC The caretaker provincial information minister said that they had asked the PTI leadership to shift their political programme to a next date but they refused to do so. He warned that if there was any resistance on PTI’s part the enforcement of Section 144 would be further extended. Amir observed that the official date for electioneering was April 6, adding that anything done before that was a “political activity”.

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