Crackdown forces PTI to cancel Islamabad 'warm-up' rally

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called off its warm-up rally which had been scheduled to take place in the federal capital on Saturday, advising party workers to evade arrests. 

In order to flex its muscles and demonstrate its seriousness in taking on the government on November 2, the PTI had planned to organize a warm-up rally in the federal capital ahead of the 'Islamabad Lockdown' protest. However, the party changed its decision and cancelled the rally, owing to the government's recent crackdown against PTI workers and loyalists. 

The rally was scheduled to commence from Bhara Kahu and end at Sector I-8 in Islamabad. Now, party chief Imran Khan has directed workers and supporters to avoid arrests and come out in defiance of the government on November 2. The PTI chief spoke to Geo News, stating that he would wait for the Islamabad High Court's decision. 

A larger bench of the Supreme Court will hear the Panama Leaks case on Tuesday. The hearing will take place on November 1, a day before the expected 'Islamabad Lockdown' is expected to take place.

The bench that will hear the Panama Leaks case will be headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Asif Khosa, Justice Azmat Saeed, Justice Ameer Hani Muslim and Justice Aijaz ul Hasan will be part of the bench.