By 
18-11-2024
Hailey Archer
Team Pakistan Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
On November 24th, there is a nationwide protest planned in Pakistan, to support the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) (Yousafzai, 2024). This demonstration was planned by the PTI, founded by Imran Khan, a former prime minister of Pakistan (Yousafzai, 2024). One of the main goals of this national protest is to restore democracy in the country (Yousafzai, 2024). In an effort to inhibit the protest from happening, the Islamabad government imposed Section 144 in the city for two months (Yousafzai, 2024). The Section 144 order bans public gatherings that are more than five people (rallies, demonstrations, etc.) (Yousafzai, 2024). Section 144 also bans the distribution of posters, pamphlets, etc. (Qarar, 2024). This order was put into place due to the concern of disruption and unrest the large demonstration will cause in the city (Yousafzai, 2024).
In addition to this prohibition of public gatherings, multiple leaders of the PTI were taken by police for disobeying Section 144, then they were released with a warning (Qarar, 2024). Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra, the leader of the PTI, called the imposition of Section 144 “malafide and illegal” as this order has been imposed every time Imran Khan has planned a peaceful protest (Qarar, 2024). There has also been a crackdown on PTI leaders and supporters in the past months leading up to the nationwide protests (Web desk, 2024). The Pakistani government will be given a surprise, according to another PTI leader (Web desk, 2024).
Sources and further readings:
Qarar, S. (2024, November 18). Section 144 imposed in Islamabad for 2 months as PTI gears up for Nov 24 power show. Dawn. Accessed 21 November 2024. https://www.dawn.com/news/1873243/section-144-imposed-in-islamabad-for-2-months-as-pti-gears-up-for-nov-24-power-show
Web Desk. (November 19, 2024). PTI announces surprise for govt as Islamabad braces for Nov 24 protest. The News. Accessed 21 November 2024. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1252453-pti-announces-surprise-for-govt-as-islamabad-braces-for-nov-24-protest
Yousafzai, A.A. (2024, November 18). Public gatherings, rallies banned in Islamabad ahead of PTI’s ‘do-or-die protest’. The News. Accessed 21 November 2024. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1252370-public-gatherings-rallies-banned-in-islamabad-ahead-of-ptis-do-or-die-protest
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