LAHORE -UNS: The Punjab Government on Wednesday banned “all kinds of protests, demonstrations and sit-ins” in Lahore for seven days, citing the “overall security situation” in the wake of recent “wave of terrorism and threat alerts”.
A notification issued by the home ministry said the ban was imposed on “holding all kinds of assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, processions, demonstrations, […] protests and such like other activities across the district Lahore to avert any untoward incident”.
The prohibition — imposed under Section 144 (temporary orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the Code of Criminal Procedure — is to be in effect immediately.
It is pertinent to mention that the PTI had announced a rally in Lahore today, while an Aurat March is also set to being taken out.
PTI workers arrested for violating Section 144
Following the ban’s imposition,scores of PTI workers were taken into police custody on Mall Road for violating Section 144. All roads leading to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence had been cordoned off.
Water cannons were used in an effort to dispel PTI workers while police officials also smashed the windows of their cars.
The party’s official Twitter account also shared footage of the same.
Sharing another video, it said their “peaceful workers” were being arrested.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry shared a video of a water cannon being used to dispel PTI rally participants.
