The recent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in Kahna, held along the city’s Ring Road, faced significant challenges yet managed to draw a substantial crowd, demonstrating the party’s determination. Following a series of speeches from party leaders, the event was temporarily halted, leaving attendees in suspense.
Despite police raids, the arrest of party leaders, and strict conditions imposed by authorities, PTI successfully held a sizeable gathering at the Cattle Market on the outskirts of Lahore. PTI leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, and democracy in Pakistan.
During the rally, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan criticized the Punjab government for obstructing the issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the peaceful assembly. He emphasized that PTI would accept nothing less than “true democracy” and vowed to continue the fight for democratic governance and an independent judiciary, urging authorities to heed the people’s demand for genuine democracy.
General Secretary Salman Akram Raja supported these sentiments, rallying attendees to resist oppression. He alleged that a “puppet” regime was installed by stealing PTI’s mandate in the February 8 elections and condemned recent constitutional amendments that he claimed aimed to undermine the judiciary and ban PTI.
Raja further criticized the government’s attempts to manipulate the Supreme Court and announced that PTI would not recognize Justice Qazi Faez Isa as chief justice. He warned that despite the government’s efforts, they had failed to convict former Prime Minister Imran Khan legitimately and were now resorting to military courts—a move he labeled a “red line” for PTI and the public.
Opposition Leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar accused the provincial government of creating obstacles to prevent workers from attending the rally, asserting that Punjab Police conducted raids to intimidate PTI members. He highlighted that most attendees hailed from Lahore, reiterating the party’s support for Imran Khan and their rights.
Senior PTI leader Sardar Latif Khosa also criticized the government for its attempts to amend the Constitution to impose Justice Isa as chief justice, describing the recent Supreme Court reshuffle as a tactic to manipulate the judiciary.
The rally featured speeches from various PTI figures, including Sheikh Waqas Akram, Shoaib Shaheen, and Umar Dar, with snippets of Imran Khan’s previous speeches played, igniting chants from the crowd demanding his release.
Supporters began gathering at the rally site in Kahna in the afternoon, with a heavy police presence. Stalls selling PTI merchandise lined the route to the venue. The rally was approved after a deadlock between PTI and the Punjab government was resolved late the previous night, with authorities granting permission under 43 conditions.
Although PTI had initially requested to hold the gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan, the Lahore district administration designated Kahna as the venue. Prior to the event, PTI supporters alleged that police confiscated their lights, generators, and speakers, hindering access to the rally site. Notable figures such as former federal minister Hammad Azhar and Qaisara Elahi, wife of PTI President Chaudhary Pervez Elahi, led their supporters to the rally.
Despite police denials of road blockages, attendees encountered numerous obstacles, including barbed wire and checkpoints along key routes. The Lahore administration had initially blocked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s convoy, causing him to walk to the rally.
Gandapur eventually arrived late and addressed the crowd, expressing his commitment to securing Imran Khan’s release. In a statement on PTI’s social media platform X, the party claimed the Lahore administration had hindered Gandapur’s entrance, sharing a video of him walking alongside supporters.
The PTI rally marked a significant moment in the party’s ongoing struggle against government policies and highlighted the deepening political divide in the country.
