Police clear stage after 6pm deadline; Sound system cuts off before Gandapur’s speech; Supporters of PTI leave stage,
Lahore-(Tahir Chuhdary)-The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Lahore rally came to an abrupt end on Saturday after the local administration cut off power and seized the stage due to the expiration of the 6 pm deadline set in the no-objection certificate (NOC). Despite being granted a timeframe from 3 pm to 6 pm, the rally started an hour and a half late, and leaders and supporters continued to arrive until the end.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur failed to reach the venue on time, prompting police to take control of the stage and turn off the microphone and lights. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and other party leaders left the stage after the deadline expired.
Gandapur, along with Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, was leading convoys from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but failed to arrive at the venue before the deadline. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari criticized Gandapur for ignoring issues in his province and focusing on public gatherings.
The deputy commissioner Lahore had warned of strict action if PTI violated the conditions mentioned in the NOC. The administration had blocked entry points to Lahore, including the Islamabad-Lahore motorway, and deployed a heavy police presence around the venue.
Gandapur arrived at 8 pm and briefly addressed the remaining supporters, promising to ensure the release of PTI founder Imran Khan. “I have arrived; please accept my presence. I broke through all the obstacles to get here. Are you happy?” he asked. After his short speech, Gandapur departed the rally site.
The rally was PTI’s second public gathering after the Sangjani rally on September 8. The event was marked by a heavy police presence, barbed wire, and blocked entry points to Lahore. Police arrested several PTI workers ahead of the rally as part of a crackdown on people allegedly involved in the May 9 events.
The Lahore High Court had directed the city’s administration to grant an NOC to PTI following their request to hold the rally at Minar-e-Pakistan. However, the administration allowed the rally to take place at the Kahna Cattle Market instead.
PTI leaders, including Hamad Azhar, Sheikh Waqas Akram, and Faisal Javed, delivered speeches during the rally. However, many PTI supporters left the venue as darkness fell, followed by party leadership. The stage set up at the rally site was dismantled soon after.
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