LAHORE: The district administration used dozens of shipping containers and trucks to block off major roads including entry and exit points in Punjab’s provincial capital to thwart Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan tonight, ARY News reported on Saturday.
According to details, police have placed barricades on major Lahore roads including Ravi Bridge and Thokar Niaz Baig – the two major entry and exit points – leading to Minar-e-Pakistan.
The measures to prevent the political gathering have caused hurdles for commuters, who are heading to their jobs and other routine activities.
In a Tweet, City Traffic Police Lahore said the following roads are closed for traffic.
“Lohay Wali Pulli towards Sabzi Mandi, Lorri Adda towards Sabzi Mandi, R/O Lorri Adda towards Sabzi Mandi ,both sides of old Ravi bridge, both sides of new Ravi bridge, Barkat Pulli towards Shahdara, Masti gate towards Railway Station, Railway Station towards Masti Gate, lk Moria bridge towards Railway Station, Railway Station towards Ik Moria from beneath and flyover, Bohar Wala Chowk, Railway Road, Brendth Road and Hafiz hotel, District Chowk towards Workshop Chowk both sides, Peer Makki U-turn both sides, Retigun chowk towards SSP corner,” it said. The police have asked people to take alternate routes.
Police continue crackdown against PTI workers
Meanwhile, the Punjab police continued crackdowns against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and arrested several activists and local leaders.
Punjab police conducted a raid at PTI senior leader – a candidate from PP-158 – Mehtab Hussain’s residence in Lahore but he was not present at home.
In Multan, the police arrested the son of former MPA Javed Akhtar Ansari in a raid and arrested PTI workers across the district.
READ: AZADI MARCH: SEVERAL PTI WORKERS ARRESTED AFTER CLASH WITH POLICE
The residence of Arslan Butt – a former staff officer of Shahbaz Gill – was also raided by the police in Burewala but he was not present at his home.
Moreover, police teams also arrested several PTI workers during raids in other cities including Mian Channu, Lodhran, Vehari and Faisalabad.
Imran Khan message
PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday called on supporters to “assert their right as people of a free nation” by attending his party’s rally at the Minar-i-Pakistan today, where he intends to outline his “vision of Haqeeqi Azadi”.
In a tweet today, the PTI chief said his party would be holding its sixth public gathering at Minar-i-Pakistan, which he felt would “break all records”.
“My heart tells me it will break all records. I am inviting everyone in Lahore to attend after Tarawih prayers. I will give my vision of Haqeeqi Azadi and how we will pull Pakistan out of the mess cabal of crooks have put our country in,” Imran said.
“Everyone must assert their right as people of a free nation that won its independence and come to Minar-i-Pakistan,” he told his supporters.
According to PTI’s official Twitter account, the rally will begin after Taraveeh prayers at 9pm.
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