LAHORE – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday postponed his election rally after the interim Punjab government imposed the Section 144 in Lahore. 

Taking to Twitter, the former prime minister claimed that the Section 144 was imposed "illegally solely on PTI election campaign" despite other public activities ongoing in Lahore. 

"Only Zaman Park has been surrounded by containers & heavy police contingent. Clearly, like 8 March, Punjab CM & police want to provoke clashes to file more sham FIRs against PTI leadership and workers and to use as pretext for postponing elections," said the former prime minister.

to file more sham FIRs against PTI ldrshp & workers & to use as pretext for postponing elections. Elec Schedule has been announced so how can Sec 144 be imposed on pol activity? I AM TELLING ALL PTI WORKERS NOT TO FALL INTO THIS TRAP. Hence we have postponed rally till tomorrow.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 12, 2023

The PTI chief questioned how Section 144 can be imposed in the provincial capital despite the announcement of the election schedule. 

Addressing a press conference, PTI leader Hammad Azhar confirmed the postponement of the rally.

"We want peaceful elections and peaceful transfer of power and it is possible that the rally might be held tomorrow," said Hammad.

Earlier, PTI on Sunday approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the Section 144 imposed by the Punjab government in Lahore ahead of the PTI election rally.

The interim Punjab government Saturday night again announced imposing Section 144 in the provincial capital to avoid any “untoward incidents”.

This is the second time in less than a week that the Punjab government has imposed the restriction ahead of the election rally of the party.