Islamabad/Lahore:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan (IMRAN Khan) in Pakistan’s jail, to celebrate February 8 as ‘Black Day’ against the alleged rigging of last year’s general election in the country as ‘Black Day’ Rallies were held on Saturday, after which several party leaders were arrested. Imran Khan’s party organized its main rally in Swabi, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The party is in power in the province. It asked its workers and supporters to perform across the country.
The party had earlier planned to rally in the historic Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore, but due to lack of permission from the authorities of Punjab province, it had to postpone the plan.
Punjab government implemented Section 144
The Punjab government led by Maryam imposed Section 144 on February 8 in the entire province. Despite this, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) held a rally in Lahore to commemorate the completion of one year term of the government.
Addressing the rally in Swabi, party president Barrister Gauhar Khan said that Pakistan’s politics without Imran Khan is incomplete and he urged the government to dismiss the ‘concocted cases’ filed against the former Prime Minister by ‘mandate thieves’.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said in a message sent to the army chief that there is terrorism in the province and unity is necessary to win the war against terrorism.
Talking about the government’s alleged involvement in the incidents of 26 November and 9 May 2023 last year, Gandapur claimed that the ruling party is afraid of setting up a judicial commission to investigate these cases.
A huge number of police force deployment
A large number of police forces were deployed inside and around the venue to prevent Imran’s party workers from reaching the venue.
The police arrested the protesters in groups.
The police arrested several activists including Meher Bano Qureshi, daughter of party vice -president Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in Multan city.
He protested against the “puppet government” with party workers for the allegedly stolen mandate.
Zahid Bahar Hashmi and Dalir Meher were also arrested for violating Section 144 in Pul Chatta.
Imran’s party said that the army and the current rulers had stolen the mandate of the people in the general elections of February 8 last year.
Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachahar said that the party present in power adopted various tactics to win the election and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party rivals were declared winners while they were losing.
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