Thousands of supporters of the opposition Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) party rallied in Lahore to demand the release of imprisoned leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, but the gathering was cut short after authorities shut off power to the lights and sound system at the site, local media reported.
PTI leaders traveled from Peshawar to Lahore to meet up with other supporters from throughout the country.
PTI was given permission to hold the rally from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., at which time the power was cut at the meeting place.
Government leaders insisted they had given the PTI “free hand and ensured their security” but that only about 3,000 people had shown up, the Dawn newspaper reported.
