In a bold move, the PML-N government has imposed section 144 in Punjab for two months ahead of PTI’s Azadi March set for May 25th. As PTI gets ready for its long march, the government is taking measures to prevent the march, fearing violence.
To clarify, as a result of section 144, all types of public gatherings exceeding four persons will remain banned in the province. All kinds of public events and rallies will also be prohibited.
Read more: Video: PTI fans came out on street in the night to protest against raids on their leaders
PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar said in a press conference that they are imposing section 144 in Punjab. Atta expressed that Imran Khan wants to spread chaos in the country as he is not in the power.
“We will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands,” he said.
Earlier, the Sindh government imposed section 144 across the province for 20 days. As per details, violations will be prosecuted under section 144 while it will be enforced across the province for a month. The Sindh Home Department issued a notification regarding the imposition of Section 144. The reason for Section 144 in Sindh was the recent uptick in terror activities in Karachi.
Section 144 imposed in Islamabad ahead of the #حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ as government seals various roads and intersections leading to the capital of Pakistan. Can these measures stop Imran Khan and his #LongMarch?
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) May 24, 2022
PML-N stops Azadi March
Meanwhile, in Punjab, the decision to enforce section 144 came after a police constable lost his life during a police raid in Lahore. Late Monday, the Punjab police launched a heavy crackdown on PTI leaders’ residences in a bid to arrest them.
According to PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry, the police had conducted raids on 1,100 homes last night and entered people’s houses without any warrants. The move has sparked anger among PTI and its supporters who are determined to hold the long march.
Read more: PTI, PML-N govt trade barbs over policeman’s death during Lahore raid
On the other hand, the government is taking active measures to prevent the long march from taking place. In fact, PML-N has decided to stop PTI’s Azadi March from taking place at all. The decision came during PML-N’s political committee meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair hours after a cop lost his life during a raid on the house of a PTI leader.
Crackdown,raid, arrest, section 144, remind me of days of Martial Law. This will not help the government and ruling parties in any way and such actions are highly condemnable. Sad we have not learnt any lesson from history.
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) May 24, 2022
The PML-N government has beefed up security in Islamabad. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has also summoned the Pakistan Army for the security of the Red Zone in Islamabad.