Huge gatherings banned in Lahore ahead of Imran Khan’s mega election rally today

Hours after former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday announced leading the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) election rally in Lahore, Pakistan’s Punjab government has banned huge gatherings in the city, reported Geo News.

The PTI chief is set to lead the first rally on Sunday in over four months as he was mobilising the party from his Zaman Park residence. The former Pakistan PM had been at home as he was recovering from an injury he sustained last year.

Less than a week after imposing restrictions before the political party’s election rally, the interim government did so again. The caretaker set-up has faced severe criticism for being biased.

Just like earlier this week, the former prime minister has once again announced holding a rally on an “important day,” Punjab caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir was quoted as saying by Geo News.

“Today (Sunday), Lahore will host a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match. There will also be a 40-kilometer-long marathon and cycle race in the city,” the information minister said.

Mir added that the administration informed the party about the events beforehand, and it was also apprised in writing to hold the rally another day, but it chose otherwise.

The developments come after the Balochistan High Court, on Friday, suspended the arrest warrant against Imran Khan and he now won’t face arrest for two weeks in a hate speech case.

The suspension of the arrest warrant came amid the arrival of a Quetta police team in Lahore to arrest Imran Khan as per a local court order, the report said.

The high court, while suspending the warrant, also issued a summons for the Balochistan police chief, the report added. The hearing was then adjourned for two weeks.