Petition Filed in Lahore High Court to Halt PTI Rally
Concerns Raised Over Safety and Hate Speech
LAHORE – A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking to prevent the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from holding a rally in Lahore. The petition, submitted by Mirza Wahid Rafiq through lawyer Nadeem Sarwar, names the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore and PTI among the respondents.
The petition argues that PTI has previously submitted multiple requests for permission to hold rallies in Lahore, but the Deputy Commissioner has denied approval citing security concerns, particularly the threat of terrorism.
Lawyer Nadeem Sarwar contends that PTI rallies have featured hate speech, referencing a recent event at Minar Pakistan where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s remarks were recorded. The petition claims that PTI rallies often include speeches that disparage the judiciary and insult constitutional institutions.
Given the political rivalry between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PTI, the petition expresses concerns over potential violence and calls for a ban on PTI rallies throughout Punjab. The court is expected to review the petition in the coming days.
