The Pakistani government has imposed a two-month ban on all public gatherings in Islamabad, ahead of a planned protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The protest, scheduled for November 24, is aimed at pressuring the government to release former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year on multiple charges.
In response to the PTI’s call for a mass demonstration, the federal authorities invoked Section 144, a colonial-era law that prohibits public assemblies. The Islamabad District Magistrate’s office cited concerns over potential “unlawful assemblies” that could disrupt public peace and safety. The order bans gatherings of five or more people, the use of loudspeakers for inflammatory speeches, and the display of firearms or firecrackers. The district magistrate also prohibited the distribution of pamphlets and posters intended to incite tensions.
Despite the ban, PTI leaders, including Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, have called on supporters from various sectors farmers, lawyers, civil society, and students to participate in the protest. In a recent meeting with her brother in jail, Aleema Khan emphasized that the protest is a fight for democracy and freedom, quoting Imran Khan’s message urging citizens to resist martial law and reclaim their rights.
Imran Khan, 72, has been incarcerated since August of the previous year. While some of his convictions have been appealed or granted bail, he remains in jail due to ongoing cases. The PTI’s protest is framed around three key demands: the restoration of judicial powers, the release of jailed party members, and the return of what they claim to be a “stolen mandate” in the controversial 2024 elections. The protests have grown more frequent since September, with the PTI’s last attempt to march on Islamabad in October failing to meet its objectives.
As tensions rise, the government’s ban on public gatherings appears to be an attempt to suppress PTI’s protest momentum, but political analysts suggest that the party may continue to defy the ban, citing citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly.