Authorities in Lahore have locked all gates leading to Minar-e-Pakistan ahead of a planned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally on September 21. The police, along with other departments, sealed off the area, barring public entry and deploying heavy security at all gates. The PTI rally has not yet received official approval, prompting the party to file a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking permission for the event.
The Deputy Commissioner of Lahore has requested an intelligence report before making a final decision on whether to allow the rally. Lahore police have also been asked to provide input, with the final decision expected later today, as directed by the Lahore High Court. The court dismissed a separate petition aiming to block the rally, deeming it inadmissible.
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PTI’s chairman, Imran Khan, expressed concerns over the government’s reluctance to approve the rally, warning that if it is stopped, the event could escalate into a nationwide protest. He asserted that holding rallies is a constitutional right and accused the government of undermining democracy by denying PTI permission to gather at Minar-e-Pakistan.
Imran Khan further emphasized that the PTI rally is intended to safeguard democracy and freedom, as endorsed by the Supreme Court, and criticized the ongoing restrictions on public assemblies in Lahore.
