PTI Lahore rally ends abruptly as police clear stage, lights shut off after 6 PM

Two weeks after its massive public gathering in Islamabad, the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s largest opposition party – the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) - kicked off its rally at the historic city of Lahore amid tight security and barely any internet signals.

As per footage posted on X by PTI, a large number of party supporters from various cities managed to reach the venue in Kahna despite road closures and reported arrests.

However, shortly after the opposition party kicked off the gathering, the power supply to the venue was cut off, and police personnel dispersed the stage of PTI leaders and supporters. Only a handful of party leaders were able to address the crowd before the lights went out at the rally following the expiration of the 6 PM deadline.

The party had initially sought to hold today's event at Greater Iqbal Park, where the iconic Minar-i-Pakistan is located, but was assigned Kahna, on the outskirts of the city along the Ring Road reportedly after much hassle with the city administration.

The 6 PM deadline was among several conditions the party was made to agree to before being granted permission to hold the rally.

Reports received before the event kicked off suggested that several party supporters were arrested as they made their way to the venue, whereas 30-day detention orders were released for at least 42 PTI leaders.

The detention orders appeared to be a continuation of similar orders released a day earlier for five of the party's local leaders by Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza. They included the PTI’s Lahore Vice President Akmal Khan Bari, Shahzaib Khan, Akhtar Munna, Mazhar Shah, and Raja Shafiq.

The decision was challenged in the Lahore High Court.

Further security measures, including the closure of the Lahore motorway at various interchanges, added to the rising tension in the lead-up to the rally.

Footage shared by the party on X, formerly Twitter, showed the PTI's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur lead a large group of party supporters from his province to remove blockades from the Attock bridge.

Govt claims low attendance

While PTI accounts boasted of a large attendance at the gathering, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led Punjab govt disputed reports of the rally being well attended.

Ahead of the rally, Punjab's Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb posted pictures on X of an almost empty venue, claiming it to be the site of the PTI's rally.

She stated: "They have already been rejected by Punjab, so now they are attempting to create chaos with the help of government employees and machinery from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The fact that rescue vehicles, ambulances, and cranes from a province battling terrorism are being brought into Punjab to spread 'political unrest' reveals their true face."

Taking another dig at the PTI, she tweeted pictures of an empty stage at 6:38 PM, stating, "Revolution taking its last breaths."

'Release Imran Khan, or else'

In its September 8 rally, the party threatened country-wide demonstrations if the incarcerated ex-premier was not released. The party was able to gather a large number of workers and supporters for the first time since Khan was arrested last year in August.

It was also the first time the opposition party was able to hold a large successful gathering due to multiple legal and physical restrictions imposed by the government.

The federal capital’s administration had set up at least 29 shipping containers on all the major roads.

Despite these blockades, droves of workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Islamabad joined PTI’s demonstration in Sangjani, the last village falling within the capital city's jurisdiction.

However, two days after the rally, Islamabad police launched a crackdown on the PTI leadership. Several party officials were arrested for ‘violating the designated route and failing to conclude their Sunday rally on time’. Some from outside the parliament.

At least 10 party leaders were arrested including party chairman Barrister Ali Gohar, Member of National Assembly Sher Afzal Marwat, Zain Qureshi, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Ahmad Chatha, Naseem Shah, and Aamir Dogar.

While Gohar was released a day later on the court's order, the rest were remanded for eight days. However, the party leaders were granted bail after the Islamabad High Court declared their remand illegal following which an anti-terrorism court released them on bail.