PTI lawmaker Ali Muhammad Khan said on Thursday that protests would be held wherever legally possible after the provincial government and the federal capital banned public gatherings for three days.

“After the protests planned for tomorrow [Friday], the party will decide whether to launch widespread hunger strike camps across the country, which is now limited to the National Assembly,” he said while appearing on Roobaroo aired on Aaj News via video link.

Earlier in the day, the Punjab Home Department and the capital administration imposed Section 144 under the CrPC which empowers the district administration to issue orders in the public interest that may place a ban on an activity for a specific period of time.

The PTI has announced its decision to protest for the release of all political prisoners, including party founder Imran Khan, to reclaim the mandate.

While responding to States and Frontier Regions Amir Muqam’s comments, Ali said: “It is better to eat chicken than to eat the treasury.”

The PTI leader stated that party founder Imran Khan had previously said that the party’s movement would never resort to violence, as that would lead to the demise of the movement. He acknowledged that a few individuals had taken a violent path, which was wrong, and the entire party or its leadership should not be held accountable for their actions.

In response to a question, he said that the army chief was not for any particular party or government, but rather the position was for the entire nation and deserves the respect of all.

Ali clarified that his party was not against any office or institution. “We only say that the establishment should not have a role in Pakistan’s politics,” he said.

He was of the view that the PTI does not have to give any opportunity to the government to file false cases against the party. “We will protest wherever legally possible,” he added.