Lahore, Pakistan: Electioneering for forthcoming general Elections 2018 goes on in Pakistan under imposition of section 144, highways closure, telephone service closure and arrests of political workers.
When just 12 days are left for holding General Elections 2018 in Pakistan, the country is going through political environments those have never been reported under any civilian government before. Senior journalists recall such situation was reported in 1985 when Elections 1985 were held under martial rule of late Gen Ziaul Haq when majority of political parties decided to boycott elections while claiming that there was no space left for them for contesting elections.
Roads leading to Lahore Airport were closed down by placing containers and many several small PMLN rallies were disrupted by police actions in Ichhara, Samanabad, Chugi Amersadu, Mustafabad, Mughalpura and adjacent areas. Chairing Cross Mall Road was closed by installing containers. Lahore Police managed over 100 containers to manage situation in Lahore.
Several former federal and provincial ministers including Kh Saad Rafique were house-arrested. According to PMLN sources, over 1200 workers were arrested by afternoon of July 13, 2018.
Telephone service was closed down in the district of Lahore on Friday when former Prime Minister and former head of PMLN, Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryrum Nawaz were scheduled to land at Lahore airport for submitting themselves to authorities as their arrests were demanded after a court decision for convicting them for 10 to 7 years imprisonment.
Motorway and G.T roads those connect Lahore with rest of the country were closed down by placing containers and security services including Rangers and Police had been managing the situation.
Who ordered for Rangers ?????
No blockade ????? Look at this kamoke toll plaza pic.twitter.com/JnB55CKVUo— PML(N) Media (@PmlnMedia) July 13, 2018
PMLN claims that their workers were arrested in Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala to stop their march to Lahore airport to receive their leader.
Containers removed at Motorway by Workers at KalarKahar! #SherAyaSherAya pic.twitter.com/2kkwjSaKK4
— Faisal Ranjha (@ranjha001) July 13, 2018
Section 144 was clamped in the province of Punjab to control any procession or public meeting on Friday. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) empowers an executive magistrate to prohibit an assembly of more than four persons in an area. An unlawful assembly which has made a motion towards its common purpose was termed a rout, and if the unlawful assembly should proceed to carry out its purpose, it is called a riot.
Kamoke toll plaza
No blockade????? #SherAyaSherAya pic.twitter.com/yYtEwviO1J— PML(N) Media (@PmlnMedia) July 13, 2018
Meanwhile Home Minister of Punjab Shukat Javed while addressing a press conference said that mobile phone service was closed down to mitigate chances of act of terrorism in Lahore. He stated that no road is (was) closed in the province and no arrests were reported.
