Tag: minar-e-pakistan

  • No rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, Punjab govt notifies PTI

    No rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, Punjab govt notifies PTI

    The Punjab government has decided to allow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold a rally in Lahore but not at the Greater Iqbal Park at Minar-e-Pakistan.

    In a high-level district intelligence committee meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lahore, various suggestions were floated whether to allow PTI to hold a rally in Lahore or not, Geo News reported.

    DC Lahore also sought a security report from Punjab police.

    The Lahore High Court, while rejecting an appeal for the suspension of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally scheduled on September 21 in Lahore, directed the DC on Friday to decide the venue for the rally by 5 PM today.

    Justice Tariq Nadeem lamented, “All the bureaucracy has left their work to be in the court today; the world has progressed so much. What message are we giving to the world?”

  • PML-N gets permission to do Jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan

    PML-N gets permission to do Jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan

    The district administration of Lahore has given permission to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to hold a public gathering at the Greater Iqbal Park on October 21. Former prime minister and PML-N supremo, Nawaz Sharif, will address the gathering after reaching Pakistan at Minar-e-Pakistan on October 21.

    Lahore administration has said in its statement that PML-N had been told about the terms and conditions to hold the public meeting at Minar-e-Pakistan, while the former ruling party was also directed to ask for permission from the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).

    The PML-N submitted a sworn statement to the Lahore administration to assure them that the party will pay in case of any damage to the park during the public gathering.

    The district administration has also emphasised its commitment to maintaining constant communication with relevant authorities regarding security, traffic management, and event organizers. An upcoming traffic plan and advisory will be released shortly to minimise any inconvenience for the general public.

  • Nawaz Sharif to come back via special flight

    Nawaz Sharif to come back via special flight

    Sources have confirmed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif is all set to head back to the country via special flight named ‘Umeed Pakistan’. There is enough space for 150 individuals in this flight.

    Sharif will leave for Saudi Arabia tomorrow from London and perform Umrah there. The stay will last for a week and will include meetings with significant Saudi leadership.

    He is expected to reach Dubai on either 17 or 18 of October. Several meetings are scheduled there as well and this stay will last for three days.

    This journey will hit the crescendo when the PML-N leader will reach Islamabad from Dubai on October 21, accompanied by party members and journalists. With a layover of half an hour in Islamabad, the whole entourage will take off for Lahore where Nawaz Sharif will address the procession in Minar-e-Pakistan.

  • Nawaz Sharif will appear in court after his address at Minar-e-Pakistan

    Nawaz Sharif will appear in court after his address at Minar-e-Pakistan

    Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is set to return to Pakistan after a prolonged absence, will address a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan the day after his arrival, followed by a court appearance.

    Rana Sanaullah, the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab, stated that party head Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to arrive in Lahore on October 21. On the first day of his return, he will kick off the PML-N’s election campaign with a speech at Minar-e-Pakistan. Following this, he will appear in court on the next day.

    It is worth noting that the Interim Prime Minister had previously stated that legal opinions would be sought regarding Nawaz Sharif’s return, and his homecoming would be conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s laws. Various legal aspects surrounding his return will need to be considered.

    On the other hand, Khurram Dastgir Khan, a leader of the PML-N, remarked that Nawaz Sharif left the country by choice after the consent of two courts and will now return based on the same judicial consent.

    Previously, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti had stated that if Nawaz Sharif did not receive bail from the court, he would be arrested. He opined that Nawaz Sharif might even prefer to surrender himself, as there is no need for a large-scale operation to apprehend one individual.

    Reacting to the Interior Minister’s statement, Rana Sanaullah, called the statement “crossing the line.”

    Rana Sanaullah stated, “Sarfaraz Bugti should see how the matter concluded when former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid gave his statement. There is no political agenda on the part of the caretaker government. It is a positive development that Nawaz Sharif wants to rejoin Pakistan’s politics.”

    In response, Bugti clarified that his statement had been taken out of context and manipulated for political purposes. He emphasized that the government had no political agenda and welcomed Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistani politics.

    The anticipation surrounding Nawaz Sharif’s return has generated significant political interest, as observers closely monitor developments leading up to his homecoming and subsequent political activities.

  • Pakistan to spend Rs40 crore to display 500-foot flag in Lahore

    Pakistan to spend Rs40 crore to display 500-foot flag in Lahore

    Pakistan has an ambitious plan to raise a 500-foot flag in Lahore, with the goal of claiming the title of the country’s tallest flag. The project, which comes with a significant cost of Rs40 crore, will be showcased during a grand flag-raising ceremony on Pakistan’s Independence Day, August 14, 2023.

    This endeavor is part of an ongoing competition between Pakistan and India to erect the tallest flag. The rivalry began in 2017 when India proudly hoisted a 360-foot flag at the Attari-Wagah border in March of that year. In response, Pakistan swiftly raised a 400-foot flag at the same border on its Independence Day in August 2017. India then surpassed this height by unveiling a 418-foot flag at the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar later that October. Now, Pakistan seeks to take the lead by installing a 500-foot flag in Lahore.

    Opinions on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook regarding this competition are varied. Some view it as a patriotic display of national pride, while others criticise it as a misuse of taxpayer money and valuable resources. Concerns have also been raised about potential environmental and security implications associated with such colossal flags, as they could pose threats to birds and aircraft.

    According to reports, the remarkable project is being funded by the Punjab government. The flag itself will be made of polyester fabric, weighing a staggering 800 kg. The flagpole, constructed with steel and concrete, will have a base diameter of 12 feet, tapering to 4 feet at the top. Equipped with LED lights and a sound system, the flag will be visible from a distance of 15 km.

    The flag-raising ceremony is scheduled for August 14, 2023, marking the 76th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence.

  • Half of Lahore sealed ahead of PTI’s Minar-e-Pakistan jalsa

    Punjab authorities have blocked several roads in Lahore including entry and exit points of the city ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s jalsa in Minar-e-Pakistan, set to be held today (Saturday) at 9pm.

    With the help of containers and trucks, the roads have been blocked. According to details, police have also placed barricades on major Lahore roads including Ravi Bridge and Thokar Niaz Baig, the two major entry and exit points which lead to Minar-e-Pakistan.

    In a tweet, City Traffic Police Lahore has given details about the closed roads and advised residents to use alternative routes.

    In the early hours of Saturday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan called on his supporters in Lahore to attend the jalsa after Taraweeh prayers which he believes will “break all records”. 

    “Everyone must assert their right as people of a free nation that won its independence and come to Minar-e- Pakistan,” he added. 

    Earlier, the government gave a green signal to PTI to hold its powershow, however, the closure of roads has created problems for residents.

  • Lahore High Court extends halt on Zaman Park police operation till tomorrow

    Lahore High Court extends halt on Zaman Park police operation till tomorrow

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has extended the injunction on the police operation to arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Zaman Park till tomorrow.

    Yesterday, the court had ordered the police to stop the operation to arrest Imran Khan till 10 am today.

    At the hearing of the petition against the police operation at LHC today, the court said that on Thursday all parties should sit together and find a solution. Stating that we are being dishonored as a nation, the judge said, “Move your rally; for God’s sake, let people live their routine lives.”

    LHC also stopped PTI from holding a rally this Sunday at Iqbal Park (Minar-e-Pakistan) and asked the party to let citizens live their routine lives.

    The party was planning to hold a “historic” public rally at Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan on March 19 and PTI Chairman Imran Khan was set to lead it — despite “security threats”.

    PTI workers clashed for nearly 24 hours with the law enforcers trying to get through the party supporters and arrest Khan.
  • Minar-e-Pakistan incident: Ayesha Akram says Rambo responsible, Rambo denies accusations

    Minar-e-Pakistan incident: Ayesha Akram says Rambo responsible, Rambo denies accusations

    The victim of Minar-e-Pakistan incident Ayesha Akram — in a supplementary statement — has nominated her associate Amir Sohail alias Rambo, for planning to go to Minar-e-Pakistan, Dawn News reported.

    Rambo in a video statement has said that he did not plan to go with Ayesha that day but that he went with her after someone else backed out. He continued by adding that what happened at Minar-e-Pakistan was neither his nor Ayesha’s fault.

    She also accused Rambo of making obscene videos of her and blackmailing her. “I have been giving half of my salary to him,” she said, adding that Rambo —along with one of his partners, Badshah — had been running a “TikTok gang”. Rambo has been arrested, Dawn reported.

    A video went viral on social media in August that showed a woman being sexually assaulted by a large group of men at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on August 14, Pakistan’s Independence Day. The incident was later confirmed after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered. The incident sparked nationwide protests.

  • Sexual harassment incidents up by 300% in Lahore

    Since the Minar-e-Pakistan incident, the number of sexual harassment cases has increased up to 300 per cent in Lahore.

    A police report stated that during the past 1.5 months, 642 cases of sexual harassment were registered under sections 354, 354-A and 509-B as compared to the number of incidents up to less than 150 that had been reported before August 14, reports ARY News.

    Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shariq Jamal Khan said that the ratio of harassment cases was high in the past but previously people used to avoid registering cases.

    He added that the actions related to the accused in the incident of Greater Iqbal Park have encouraged the women to report such cases. He said that the authorities will take strict action in such cases.

  • Shireen Mazari calls for banning men in parks ‘to teach them a lesson’

    Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari, while presenting a report on the Minar-e-Pakistan incident to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, has said that there should be a specific time slot for women to visit parks and men should not be allowed in during that time.

    “Why are restrictions being imposed on women?” questioned Mazari.

    “It has been observed that most of the problems are caused by the youth. Curbs should be imposed on them to teach the youth a lesson,” she added.

    In an update on the case, three suspects have confessed to assaulting Ayesha Akram at Minar-e-Pakistan. In addition, a total of five suspects have been identified by Ayesha Akram, Geo News has reported.

    Read more- Suspect in Minar-e-Pakistan incident gets pre-arrest bail

    Ayesha Akram was attacked by 400 men on August 14 when she was trying to record a video with four friends to celebrate Independence Day.