PTI suggests that it would start a movement in Punjab and demands Imran Khan's "immediate release."
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On September 8, 2024, Islamabad police fired tear gas shells at security officers after some PTI workers threw stones at them.
ISLAMABAD:The police, acting on orders from the district administration, began a crackdown on Sunday, the day before the much-anticipated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) gathering on the outskirts of the federal capital was scheduled to conclude.
The federal capital saw heavy security for the rally's start as attendees assembled at the Sangjani locality, the rally's venue, and several caravans led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur made their way toward the city despite several obstacles.After twice being forced to postpone the event—in July and August—after the authorities withdrew their authorization, the former ruling party was finally granted permission to host the meeting today, September 8, thanks to a no-objection certificate (NOC) that was granted earlier this week. The several deferals received harsh criticism.
A day before the rally, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the "Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024" into law, which aims to regulate public gatherings. As a result, the district administration of Islamabad put security on high alert this morning and closed off several arteries leading to the capital city.
PTI leader Hammad Azhar addressed the gathering at the start of the public demonstration, saying that the obstruction put up by the current government showed that they were terrified of Imran Khan's imprisonment and his followers.
He also advised party members to "be ready" and announced the beginning of a revolution in Punjab led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The former federal minister Azhar said that the majority of PTI's Punjab
Within a week, he declared, "we will bring 50,000 people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into Punjab." They would even march on foot and have to contend with tear gas.
Although several other PTI leaders, such as Qasim Suri, Shehryar Afridi, and Murad Saeed, had been forced to flee the nation, party chairman Muhammad Ali Khan bemoaned the fact that they had never imagined Imran Khan would be imprisoned.
Mentioning the demands of the outgoing ruling party, Ali Khan threatened to "wash you away by the sea of people" if the people who took power on the strength of Form 47 did not release the PTI founder.
He also demanded that the rule of law and the Constitution be given its rightful place.
The deadline for wrapping up the rally has reached.
The Islamabad district administration sent out a notification regarding the rally's conclusion deadline, which states that the party must end by 7 p.m., as the PTI officials were addressing the assembly.
Irfan Nawaz Memon, the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad, stated that PTI has been formally informed of the deadline and that legal action will be taken for the NOC breach.
"Not concluding the gathering within the deadline will be considered a violation of NOC," he added.
The official added that in order to prevent any more participants from arriving beyond the deadline, all microphones and loudspeakers would be switched off and entry gates into the city will be closed.
The district administration instructed the police to intervene as soon as the deadline passed.
The authorities said that by failing to end the event by the 7 p.m. deadline, the organizers had broken the norms and regulations.
PTI members attacked Islamabad police with stones in retaliation to the crackdown, wounding numerous security personnel, including Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shoaib Khan.
Mohsin Naqvi, the interior minister, called the injured police officers to find out how they were doing and gave the go-ahead for the best medical care to be given to them.
Meanwhile, more troops have been called to Chungi No 26, the scene of the initial altercation between party workers and police.
"Explosives found out"
A suspicious bag was discovered by the police earlier close to the PTI meeting location in Sangjani. Police reported that they had found a hand grenade, detonator, electric wires, and other explosive materials within the bag.
The scene was visited by the bomb disposal squad, according to the police, and an inquiry was in progress.
The relevant authority has instructed the police officers to stay within their assigned territory, provide all necessary equipment to the staff on duty, and make sure that cell phones are not utilized while on duty.
A sizable detachment of law enforcement officers, including police, Rangers, and paramilitary forces, were stationed at the demonstration site and throughout the capital to increase security.