The authorities stated that the organisers violated the rules and regulations by not concluding the gathering before the deadline.
Islamabad: Supporters of Imran Khan held a protest rally on Sunday in Islamabad, demanding the release of the former Pakistan Prime Minister from jail. However, this peaceful protest turned into chaos when the police started firing tear gas at the rallygoers. To recall, the rally was earlier postponed twice and was finally held on Sunday near Sangjani Cattle Market in the suburbs of Islamabad with the no-objection certificate (NOC) issued by the capital administration.
Thousands of PTI supporters showed their presence in the rally to support the party’s intact power despite several hurdles it faced in the past, including the imprisonment of its founder, Imran Khan.
Last year, Khan was arrested on August 5 after his conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan. He was first held at Attock Jail, then was transferred to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. He has over 200 cases filed against him but has only been convicted for a few. On September 8, he completed his 400 days in prison.
As per the NOC, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) rally was scheduled to end at 7 p.m. (local time). As the deadline ended, a ruckus broke out as the district administration directed the police to take action against the rallygoers for not complying with the NOC. The authorities stated that the organisers violated the rules and regulations by not concluding the gathering before the deadline. After which, the police started firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
In response, agitated PTI workers began stone-pelting at the police, injuring many security personnel, including Senior Superintendent of Police Shoaib Khan.
“Strong turnout for the PTI rally despite the state’s tactics to limit numbers through roadblocks and containers and despite the risk of violent crackdowns and arrests. Its size and popularity ensure its mobilization capabilities remain intact despite relentless attempts to curb it,” Michael Kugleman, a South Asian expert, said in a post on X.
Strong turnout for PTI rally despite the state’s tactics to limit numbers through roadblocks and containers, and despite the risk of violent crackdowns and arrests. Its size and popularity ensure its mobilization capabilities remain intact despite relentless attempts to curb it.
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) September 8, 2024
After the protest, the party alleged that during the rally, heavy shelling was done by the Islamabad police on the peaceful protestors.
The leader of the opposition party (PTI), Omar Ayub Khan, warned that the party will not sit until the release of former PM Imran Khan. “We are soldiers of Imran Khan and will not sit until he is set free,” he said, adding that soon Khan would be with his supporters. He condemned physical hurdles put on roads to restrict the movement of participants and also announced that the PTI would now hold rallies across the country.
It was the first major rally by the PTI in Islamabad since the February 8 elections. The party wants to exert pressure on the government to release Khan, who languishes in jail despite the courts either acquitting him or giving him bail in all cases he was convicted.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, considering the protest, alleged that the government had turned the city into a cage, but still thousands of people attended the rally to show their support for Khan. “It shows that Imran Khan is a reality, and you will have to accept it… Imran Khan is a leader and will always be a leader,” he said. He appreciated Khan’s perseverance and leadership by saying that he was their only leader who never surrendered and would never surrender. He warned that the PTI would not accept new cases against Khan. Gohar said that the PTI planned this rally for six months and had followed Khan’s instruction to hold the rally after the government’s permission. He also criticised the government’s new law for restricting political activities across the country.
He ended his speech with the promise that “Imran Khan will be soon out of jail and with his people.”.
The slogans raised during the rally heavily demanded the release of Khan from jail.
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who came from Peshawar, joined the protest with a large number of Imran’s supporters from the province. He vowed to continue to struggle for their people’s rights. He said those who put Khan into jail were being humiliated while “Khan is winning in jail.”He said that the government gave permission for the rally and blocked all roads leading to the rally venue. “Imran Khan, you have won while all others lost,” he said, vowing to go to any length for Khan.
He announced that he would hold the next rally in Lahore, irrespective of the government’s permission. Gandapur also rejected that Khan would be tried under army law, saying no one could do it. Ex-PM Imran Khan has always shown his willingness to hold talks for the establishment while refusing to sit with the government. So far, all his tactics have failed to get any relief. Mass protest is an option, but his party has been facing pressure to avoid it. Today’s rally was a test for both the government and the PTI, as it will help them gauge the ground power swell for Khan and fine-tune their policies and tactics in the coming days.
As per PTI sources, the Islamabad administration has put hospitals and security on high alert this morning and blocked off multiple roads leading to the capital city. The Metro bus services are also stopped in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
“The hindrance created by the rulers showed they were afraid of Khan and his supporters,” says former minister Hammad Azhar while addressing the rally. He pointed out that most members of the party’s Punjab leadership are in jail, paying tribute to imprisoned leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Umar Sarfraz Cheema.
Another leader, Sher Afzal Marwat, also confirmed that they will hold rallies in Punjab very soon for Khan’s release and the supremacy of law and the Constitution. “We will enter Punjab with 50,000 people from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within a week,” he said, adding that they will even set off on foot and face the tear gas.
Additional forces have also been summoned to the location where the clash broke out between the police and the party workers.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari signed into law the Public Order and Peaceful Assembly Bill 2024 hours before the planned rally, instituting strict measures for unauthorised gatherings. The new law introduces penalties for holding gatherings without permission in Islamabad. According to which, the violators have to face up to three years in prison with a charged fine. While the repeat offenders could be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail.
(With PTI Inputs)