Pakistan locks down for rallies

Lahore: A Pakistani court restrained a cricketer-turned politician and a Canada-based populist cleric from launching a march on Islamabad in an unconstituional way, a lawyer said. The Lahore High Court’s order came as authorities blocked almost every entry point to Islamabad, with more than 25,000 police and paramilitary forces deployed to try to thwart the rally.

 

“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) are restrained from launching a march or sit-in, in Islamabad in any unconstitutional way keeping in view sensitivity of independence day and current uncertain situation in the country,” PTI's lawyer Ahmad Owais said.