Police warns against Pakistani protesters

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan police warned Sunday they would come down hard on illegal gatherings after the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan urged supporters to protest alleged rigging in last week’s election.

Independent candidates — most linked to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) party — took the most seats in the polls, thwarting the chances of the army-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to win a ruling majority.

However, independent candidates cannot form a government, and the country faces weeks of political uncertainty as rival parties negotiate possible coalitions.

PTI leaders claim they would have won even more seats if not for vote rigging.

Authorities warned they would take strict action, saying so-called Section 144 orders were in place — under a colonial-era law banning gatherings of two or more people.

“Some individuals are inciting illegal gatherings around the Election Commission and other government offices,” a statement said Sunday from Islamabad’s police force.

“Legal action will be taken against unlawful assemblies. It should be noted that soliciting for gatherings is also a crime.”

A similar warning was also issued in Rawalpindi, while AFP correspondents saw dozens of police equipped with riot gear assembling near Liberty Market in Lahore.

Khan’s party defied a monthslong crackdown that crippled campaigning and forced candidates to run as independents to emerge as the winners of Thursday’s vote.

Final results were announced Sunday, with independents winning 101 seats, PML-N 75, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) 54, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) 17.