Imran Khan challenges government with D-Chowk protest call

According to reports, PTI leader and former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan made an announcement calling to hold demonstrations at D Chowk in Islamabad on October 4, 2024.

The plan was announced after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin Gandapur threatened the Federal Govt run by current PM Shehbaz Sharif and other govt institutions with unthinkable consequences if action against PTI workers were not ceased.

As per Imran Khan, the party will hold protests in Mianwali, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur on Wednesday, 2nd October 2024. A similar protest will be held in Lahore at the Minar e Pakistan on October 5.

Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf, has called for the protest despite the fresh law that imposed restrictions on public gathering and meetings in the capital.

Under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill 2024, any political party willing to conduct a protest has to appoint an event coordinator who would write to the district magistrate for permission to hold the gathering at least seven days prior to the event.

The law empowers the federal government to designate a specific area of Islamabad capital city as a red zone or high security zone thereby prohibiting all types of assemblies in the area. After the party’s last rally in Sangjani area of Islamabad where leaders gave fiery speeches, 11 PTI MNAs were arrested from various parts of the city including the Parliament house.

Some of the leaders and party supporters were produced in anti terrorism court who handed their custody to Sangjani police for eight days on physical remand. Later the nation’s capital high court struck down the remand and the lawmakers attended the National Assembly session after the speaker issued the house orders.