PTI Lahore Jalsa
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Anti-climactic end to PTI’s Lahore power show as police clear stage, lights go out after 6pm deadline
Dawn.com | Imran GabolSeptember 21, 2024
Darkness at the venue for the PTI’s power show in Lahore on Saturday. — DawnNewsTV
The rally ground for the PTI’s power show in Lahore on Saturday. — DawnNewsTV
KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur’s convoy moves towards Lahore for party’s power show on Saturday. — X/PTIofficial
The PTI’s much-awaited Lahore power show seemingly met an anti-climactic end as lights went out and police personnel cleared the stage after the 6pm deadline expired following some speeches from leaders to supporters at Kahna in the provincial capital’s Ring Road area on Saturday.
Footage showed PTI supporters and leaders clearing the stage, leaving it empty.
Earlier, supporters took out their cellphones and used them to light up the rally venue while the party announced on its YouTube livestream that even the sound system was turned off due to the conditions of the no-objection certificate.
“The last breaths of the revolution! At 6:38pm,” said Punjab minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in a dig at the party rally while sharing images of the empty stage.
Similarly, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari termed the event the “PTI’s funeral”.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub had not arrived at the venue by the time of the deadline’s expiry. Gandapur later managed to reach the venue.
In a video message, he thanked the people of Lahore and KP for coming out for the rally and “combatting fascism”.
He said he would make his planned speech on Sunday instead and made it clear that the PTI did not accept the “Form 47” government or any constitutional amendment by it, adding that the party stood with the judiciary.
ghazi52
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‘43 conditions’
The Punjab government has set “43 conditions”, one of which is a public apology from CM Gandapur for his widely condemned speech at PTI’s Islamabad gathering on Sept 8.
While the PTI team said it refused to guarantee an apology, Insaf Lawyers Forum President Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan said Gandapur “may clarify his position during his speech at the Lahore power show”.
Another stipulation is that the rally be held between 3pm and 6pm. However, Ishtiaq Ahmad said the PTI team did not agree to this and the deputy commissioner agreed that the government would not force this condition.
An officer in the Chief Minister’s Office told Dawn that the government had officially decided to allow the PTI to hold its power show but would make ‘clandestine’ efforts to reduce the turnout from outside Lahore.
The permission letter carrying 43 conditions made organisers responsible for ensuring stage security, security of male and female enclosures, emergency exits, measures for avoiding and controlling stampedes and adequate parking by hiring private security and volunteers.
One restriction stated that mass public rallies from outside of the city should not disturb life within Lahore. It also stated that no anti-state or anti-institution sloganeering and statements be made during the power show.
Another condition stated that all those facing cases for hate speech at the previous Islamabad rally should not be allowed to participate or appear on stage. It also said no proclaimed offender would participate in the public meeting.
Similarly, no Afghan flag would be allowed to be hoisted and no “Afghan-paid manpower” to be brought to the rally. Another condition mentioned that in case of any untoward incident, the organisers would be held responsible.
The rally had been a bone of contention since July when PTI initially sought permission for the public meeting.
The Punjab government eventually allowed the PTI rally after the Lahore High Court’s three-member bench ordered DC Raza to decide on the PTI application by 5pm yesterday.
The Punjab government has set “43 conditions”, one of which is a public apology from CM Gandapur for his widely condemned speech at PTI’s Islamabad gathering on Sept 8.
While the PTI team said it refused to guarantee an apology, Insaf Lawyers Forum President Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan said Gandapur “may clarify his position during his speech at the Lahore power show”.
Another stipulation is that the rally be held between 3pm and 6pm. However, Ishtiaq Ahmad said the PTI team did not agree to this and the deputy commissioner agreed that the government would not force this condition.
An officer in the Chief Minister’s Office told Dawn that the government had officially decided to allow the PTI to hold its power show but would make ‘clandestine’ efforts to reduce the turnout from outside Lahore.
The permission letter carrying 43 conditions made organisers responsible for ensuring stage security, security of male and female enclosures, emergency exits, measures for avoiding and controlling stampedes and adequate parking by hiring private security and volunteers.
One restriction stated that mass public rallies from outside of the city should not disturb life within Lahore. It also stated that no anti-state or anti-institution sloganeering and statements be made during the power show.
Another condition stated that all those facing cases for hate speech at the previous Islamabad rally should not be allowed to participate or appear on stage. It also said no proclaimed offender would participate in the public meeting.
Similarly, no Afghan flag would be allowed to be hoisted and no “Afghan-paid manpower” to be brought to the rally. Another condition mentioned that in case of any untoward incident, the organisers would be held responsible.
The rally had been a bone of contention since July when PTI initially sought permission for the public meeting.
The Punjab government eventually allowed the PTI rally after the Lahore High Court’s three-member bench ordered DC Raza to decide on the PTI application by 5pm yesterday.
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