The Lahore High Court (LHC) has stopped PTI from holding its rally on Sunday at Minar-e-Pakistan, asking the party to let people live their routine lives.
According to the details, LHC made the remarks during a hearing over a plea filed by PTI seeking to stop police operation at PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore.
On Wednesday, LHC ordered police to halt its arrest operation against former Prime Minister Imran Khan until Thursday morning (today). On March 14, hundreds of Imran Khan’s supporters gathered outside his residence in Lahore, blocking security forces– who reached to arrest Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.
Zaman Park has turned into a warzone as security forces clashed with PTI supporters. The police used water guns and tear gas against the PTI supporters, who in retaliation threw rocks at them. Meanwhile, PTI workers also protested in Karachi, Peshawar and Islamabad.
Read more: Zaman Park drama comes to a halt
During the hearing today, Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh reprimanded PTI for not planning its public gathering ahead of time and said that if they wanted to hold a jalsa, then the preparations should have begun 15 days prior.
“For God’s sake, allow the people to live their routine lives. Your rally will not take place this Sunday. Even if a person gets married, they plan ahead,” he said.
The judge then asked the party leader to sit down with authorities and sort out the issue. “We are being embarrassed as a nation,” the judge remarked, asking the PTI to once again reschedule its rally.
Lahore High Courts stops PTI from holding a rally at Minar e Pakistan in Lahore on Sunday, Court says that the party will Have to seek a permit atleast 15 days prior to the day of the event. #Pakistan
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) March 16, 2023
لاہور ہائیکورٹ نے تحریک انصاف کو اتوار کے روز لاہور میں جلسہ کرنے سے روک دیا، جسٹس طارق سلیم شیخ نے حکم دیا کہ اگر جلسہ کرنا ہے تو پندرہ دن پہلے پلان کریں،
— Shakir Mehmood Awan (@ShakirAwan88) March 16, 2023
PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan had earlier announced a “historic” jalsa on Sunday (March 19) at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore. He made the announcement during his election rally.
“I will hold a jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan on Sunday [March 19] at 2 pm. We all have to struggle together,” Imran Khan said. Last year, Imran Khan held a public rally at Minar-e-Pakistan following his ouster. The rally at Minar-e-Pakistan was attended by scores of PTI supporters.
Read more: PTI pulls massive crowd at Minar-e-Pakistan