In response to alleged rigging in the February 8 polls, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers took to the streets in various cities, including Lahore, leading to confrontations with the police.
The protests targeted what the party claims to be the “theft of its mandate”.
In Lahore, PTI supporters, including lawyers and members of the legal fraternity, staged demonstrations in several localities such as Shahdara, GPO Chowk at Mall Road, and outside the commissioner’s office.
The protests were part of the party’s broader call to action against the purported electoral irregularities.
Despite securing over 90 National Assembly seats, PTI is not alone in contesting the election results, as other parties like Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have also expressed concerns.
Notably, PTI-backed winning candidates have aligned with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to claim reserved seats for female candidates and minorities.
In Lahore, heavy police deployment was witnessed, especially at GPO Chowk, identified as the main protest site by the PTI spokesperson.
The police presence extended to the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the party’s office at Jail Road. Baton charges were employed by the police to disperse PTI workers during the demonstrations.
The PTI spokesperson announced the party’s intention to hold protests across all constituencies of Lahore. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi, visiting GPO Chowk and PTI’s office, emphasized that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.
He warned of strict action against anyone interfering with the peace of the city.
Simultaneously, members of the Insaf Lawyers Forum protested outside the LHC. The police intervened, pushing them inside the court premises and subsequently locking the gate.
In another development, PTI’s Sher Afzal Marwat, leading a rally from Peshawar to Islamabad, altered its route towards Rawalpindi. The rally, which aimed to enter Islamabad from Purodhai to IJP Road in Rawalpindi, faced disruptions as it passed through Raja Bazaar and Fawwara Chowk.
A PTI spokesperson, addressing the situation, labeled the protests as “peaceful” and accused state machinery and law enforcement of interference. The spokesperson expressed dissatisfaction with what they deemed “unconstitutional” obstacles to their protests, asserting that they would not accept the election results through Form 47.
