Several protesters shouted for marching to Islamabad’s D-Chowk at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s rally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swabi on Saturday as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur sought the army’s support for defeating terrorism in the province.

Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party is observing February 8 as a “black day” to mark the first anniversary of last year’s elections, which were overshadowed by disputes over inconsistencies in the results.

The Lahore High Court had denied the party’s permission to hold a rally at Minar-i-Pakistan. In response, PTI’s Punjab chief organiser, Aliya Hamza Malik, has directed party leaders to organize protest demonstrations.

Section 144 has been enacted in Islamabad, Punjab, and Balochistan, according to Radio Pakistan. The legal provision allowed district administrations to ban assemblies of four or more people in specific areas for a limited time.

The notification specified that all gatherings, processions, rallies, and sit-ins were prohibited to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of citizens and their property. But the reasons for the ban and its duration have not been disclosed.

Cavalcades from different areas arrived at Swabi to attend the rally. PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, party leaders Shoaib Shaheen, Faisal Javed, and Aamir Mughal were present on stage.

As Mughal’s name was announced, chants of “Lota Lota” emerged from the crowd. Similarly, when more leaders’ names were called out, the crowd responded with shouts of “Diesel, Diesel,” showcasing their sentiments towards the political figures.

At the PTI rally, an old video of Khan addressing a crowd in Swabi was played. In the video, the PTI founder made allegations against PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

When Faisal Javed addressed the people, attendants reacted with shouts of “Ooo, Ooo,” expressing their sentiments in response to the speech.

PTI leaders accuse government of ‘election fraud’

PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram claimed that the elections held on February 8 were rigged, asserting that the day would always be commemorated as ‘Black Day’. He alleged that the purpose of “stealing the election” was to facilitate the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which aimed to control judges.

Former religious minister Noorul Haq Qadri launched a tirade against the federal government, repeating his statements at the insistence of those on stage.

As former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser began his address, a young man climbed the stage pole. After a failed attempt to remove him, Qaiser resumed his speech. He led the crowd in chants of “Go Shehbaz” and “Oooo,” expressing dissatisfaction with the incumbent government.

Qaiser criticised the “election process,” although his speech was notably brief. At the end, he reassured farmers regarding tobacco tax issues, aiming to address their concerns.

Junaid Akbar calls for unity among PTI workers

When PTI President for KP Chapter Junaid Akbar was invited to speak, he first attempted to bring down a young man who had climbed a pole, encouraging him to come down by promising that the crowd would cheer enthusiastically. At Akbar’s urging, the young man descended.

As Akbar began his speech, chants of “D-Chowk” echoed through the crowd.

He stated that the rally, called by Khan, was a message to those claiming that PTI workers were afraid and exhausted. The PTI president for KP chapter emphasised that whenever Khan calls for a gathering, the workers would show up in even greater numbers than before.

Akbar was the first speaker to address the “institutions directly,” declaring that this time they would come prepared for confrontation. He noted the “significant distance between the public and institutions, which he deemed dangerous for the country.”

He posed a provocative question to the attendants, asking who among them was ready to face gunfire.

Furthermore, Akbar highlighted the support from overseas Pakistanis, stating that they would not send remittances until the rule of law was restored in Pakistan. Despite PTI’s call to halt remittances, there has been an improvement in remittance inflows in recent months.

He concluded by urging the workers to pledge that when Khan called for protests again, they would participate in even larger numbers.

Mahmood Khan Achakzai advocates for development, democracy

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai stated that they did not come to insult or berate anyone but to affirm their belief in Pakistan’s development and democracy.

“The country is sinking due to corruption and bribery. If Imran Khan’s party were to move forward, the government of liars and dishonest individuals would not last even three months.”

Salman Akram Raja delivers ‘message of victory from Imran Khan’

PTI leader Salman Akram Raja announced that he would convey a message from Imran Khan to the rally participants, declaring, “Victory is ours. We won on February 8, and we are still victorious today.”

Raja added that the party was “well-organised” and prioritised Khan’s vision, asserting that there would be no discord or misconduct within the party. He urged the attendees, stating, “You are the destiny of Pakistan; you must stand with Imran Khan.”

KP CM Gandapur was invited to speak and came on stage, but before him, PTI MNA Sher Azfar Marwat took the microphone and stated, “We are bad people, and we come in times of trouble. My tongue will speak for Ali Amin Gandapur.”

Gandapur calls for unity against government

“First of all, I hear you chanting ‘Oooo.’ This chant is for those who possess humanity. For those who lack humanity, the chant is ‘Thooo’,” KP Chief Minister Gandapur said.

He emphasised that while they hold the green colour in their hands, it also represents the colour of blood, warning that “you will not be able to bear it.” He led the crowd in chants of “Blood for blood.”

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Gandapur stated that when they call for revolution and embrace the “red colour, it will be unbearable for the opposition.” He claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government incited the people of Pakistan.

“If you use weapons taken from our tax money against us, know that we have weapons too.”

Gundapur sent a message to the military leadership, stating that “there is terrorism in their province and that to win the war against it we need to unite and abandon the support for thieves.”

He demanded the supremacy of the Constitution in Pakistan, declaring, “Whoever stands in our way, we will fight and die.”

The PTI rally in Swabi lasted just over an hour and concluded at 6pm.