Canal road turns into battle zone as police, PTI workers come face to face

Lahore: The areas surrounding Zaman Park and the roads leading to it turned into battle zone after the police launched crackdown against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and used tear gas to disperse them on Wednesday.

The citizens, especially the women and children faced huge trouble while traveling to work and home as the road blockage and diversion at different points caused huge traffic mess.

The Mall road, Ferozpur road and the Canal road faced huge traffic mess in the city.

Arrest and use of tear gas:

The latest reports say that the police took several PTI workers into custody over alleged violation of Section 144 and in many places, the use of tear gas was also reported. The elderly people among the PTI workers suffered a lot due to the tear gas.

Mall road is the most sensitive part of the city at this moment as both ways have been blocked for the traffic, and this is the point where the police focused the most and used tear gas to bar the PTI workers from launching the rally.

After imposition of Section 144, the police took action and reports emerged in which the police contingents could be seen damaging the PTI vans. 

 

Section 144:

The situation developed after the Punjab Home department imposed Section 144 to bar the PTI from starting rally in the provincial capital. The move subsequently caused huge trouble to those who were organizing programs in connection with International Women’s Day.

Punjab Additional Chief Secretary Shakeel Ahmed  issued the order, stating: “It has been observed that number of rallies and protests are held therein on daily basis at different places of District Lahore, which not only pose serious security threats but also disrupt traffic and cause inconvenience to public at large. There is also a history of terrorist activities in the rallies/ protests. wherein, a number of police officials and civilians embarrassed shahadat [martyrdom]”.

“Hence, in the context of prevailing overall security situation in the wake of recent wave of terrorism & latest threat alerts, it has been necessary to impose section 144 of Cr.P.C, 1898 on holding of all kinds of Assemblies, Gatherings, Sits-in, Rallies. Processions, Demonstrations, Jalsas, Dharnas, Protests and such like other activities across the district Lahore to avert any untoward incident,” reads the order.

The additional chief secretary said the order shall come into force with immediate effect and remain in force for seven days.

PTI’s reaction:

On other hand, the PTI leaders said that they launched a pro-judiciary rally and gave a call to its workers to gather at the residence of Imran Khan in Zaman Park.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that Lahore is reflecting the situaiton like Occupied Kashmir and calling it "fascim". 

آج لاہور مقبوضہ کشمیر کا منظر پیش کر رہا ہے، 30 اپریل کے انتخابات کے سلسلے میں انتخابی ریلی کے شرکاء اور پرامن کارکنان پر بدترین فسطائیت برپا کی جاری ہے۔ عمران خان
#Fascist_PDM pic.twitter.com/HDPgrw6zAc

— PTI (@PTIofficial) March 8, 2023

In another tweet, he said, "SC 5-mbr bench orders elections in Punjab & KP in 90 days, asking President to announce date which he does - 30 April. With hardly 55 days left, PTI kicks off election rally in Lahore. Under what law, & in brazen contempt of SC, Punjab Caretaker govt uses massive police violence,".

SC 5-mbr bench orders elections in Punjab & KP in 90 days, asking President to announce date which he does - 30 April. With hardly 55 days left, PTI kicks off election rally in Lahore. Under what law, & in brazen contempt of SC, Punjab Caretaker govt uses massive police violence

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 8, 2023  

In another tweet, Khan said, " against unarmed workers to stop our planned rally? The only job of Caretakers is to ensure fair & free elections. What they are doing is an assault on rule of law, our Constitution & democracy. Above all, once SC ruling is defied, it is now law of the jungle,".

against unarmed workers to stop our planned rally? The only job of Caretakers is to ensure fair & free elections. What they are doing is an assault on rule of law, our Constitution & democracy. Above all, once SC ruling is defied, it is now law of the jungle.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 8, 2023

Taking to Twitter, the PTI released videos on police action and showed them using the water cannons and taking the workers into custody on Canal Road.

The workers also reacted to the police operation as they came face to face with the police on Canal road near Zaman Park—the area where PTI Chief Imran Khan lives.