RAWALPINDI: The district administration has imposed a 15-day ban on gatherings across Rawalpindi ahead of PTI\u2019s protest outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday and a separate demonstration scheduled for April 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an order issued on Monday, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Hassan Waqar Cheema invoked Section 144 of the CrPC from April 6 to April 20, prohibiting all gatherings, sit-ins, and protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt has been brought to my attention by the District Intelligence Committee (DIC) in its meeting held on April 4 that there exists an imminent threat within the limits of District Rawalpindi, particularly surrounding sensitive installations, major roads, and other critical infrastructure,\u201d the order stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The order added that the DIC had received intelligence suggesting that \u201ccertain groups and elements are actively mobilising with intentions to disturb the law and order situation through large gatherings, protests, and disruptive assemblies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe forum further indicates that these elements may target soft locations and mobilise individuals with the potential to engage in violent actions near key installations and other sensitive sites,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In view of these circumstances, the DC deemed it \u201cessential to ensure the security of the people and installations against any potential threat,\u201d and consequently banned gatherings of five or more persons across the district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The display of arms, other than those carried by law enforcement personnel, and \u201cobjectionable\/hate speeches\u201d were also prohibited.Furthermore, the order banned carrying \u201cweapons, spikes, laden batons, gulels, ball bearings, petrol bombs, improvised explosives, or any other instruments that could potentially be used for violence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pillion-riding on motorcycles and the use of loudspeakers were also restricted under the order.Later on Monday, multiple PTI leaders were reportedly detained, including Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Moeen Qureshi, parliamentary leader Farrukh Javaid Moon, and MPA Ali Imtiaz Warraich from Kallar Kahar, according to an associate of Moon speaking to Dawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The associate added that the leaders were on their way to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi at the time of detention.Over the past few months, PTI has held sit-ins near or outside the prison complex every Tuesday and Thursday \u2014 the court-mandated visiting days for former premier and PTI founder Imran Khan, who remains incarcerated at Adiala Jail and has faced restrictions on meetings with family and party leaders.The PTI has called for a \u201cpeaceful protest\u201d outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday, opposing the limitations imposed on meeting Imran Khan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The party has also announced a larger protest in Rawalpindi on April 9, marking the anniversary of Imran Khan\u2019s ouster through a no-confidence motion in 2022.On Monday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi stated that the Rawalpindi protest would be a one-day peaceful activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe April 9 protest is intended to highlight concerns regarding democratic backsliding, economic decline, inflation, delays in the hearings of PTI founder Imran Khan\u2019s cases, as well as his and his wife\u2019s continued illegal detention and inhumane treatment,\u201d Afridi told a news conference at the KP House in Islamabad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He urged authorities to grant permission for the gathering, noting that any denial would compel participants to stage a protest at the point of obstruction.Afridi added that his convoy would depart Peshawar for Rawalpindi at 11 a.m. on April 9, with participants joining from various districts across the province.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RAWALPINDI: The district administration has imposed a 15-day ban on gatherings across Rawalpindi ahead of PTI\u2019s protest outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday and a separate demonstration scheduled for April 9.… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2905,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pakistan"],"yoast_head":"\n