The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s rally began in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swabi on Saturday as several protesters shouted for marching to Islamabad’s D-Chowk.
Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party is observing February 8 as a “black day” to mark the first anniversary of last year’s elections, which were overshadowed by disputes over inconsistencies in the results.
The Lahore High Court had denied the party’s permission to hold a rally at Minar-i-Pakistan. In response, PTI’s Punjab chief organiser, Aliya Hamza Malik, has directed party leaders to organize protest demonstrations.
Section 144 has been enacted in Islamabad, Punjab, and Balochistan, according to Radio Pakistan. The legal provision allowed district administrations to ban assemblies of four or more people in specific areas for a limited time.
The notification specified that all gatherings, processions, rallies, and sit-ins were prohibited to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of citizens and their property. But the reasons for the ban and its duration have not been disclosed.
Cavalcades from different areas arrived at Swabi to attend the rally. PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, party leaders Shoaib Shaheen, Faisal Javed, and Aamir Mughal were present on stage.
As Mughal’s name was announced, chants of “Lota Lota” emerged from the crowd. Similarly, when more leaders’ names were called out, the crowd responded with shouts of “Diesel, Diesel,” showcasing their sentiments towards the political figures.
At the PTI rally, an old video of Khan addressing a crowd in Swabi was played. In the video, the PTI founder made allegations against PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
When Faisal Javed addressed the people, attendants reacted with shouts of “Ooo, Ooo,” expressing their sentiments in response to the speech.
