Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) nationwide rallies have kicked off to mark International Workers' Day, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday. 

A rally led by former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has kicked off from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk to Nasir Bagh to commemorate the working class’s day. 

A large number of PTI workers and supporters are taking part in the rally to pay tribute to those workers and laborers who laid down their lives for the achievement of their rights on this day 136 years ago in Chicago city of USA. 

The International Labour Day is observed globally on May 1 every year. The Day spreads awareness about the workers’ rights and also recognizes their accomplishments. 

The fervent workers are moving towards Nasir Bagh in the shape of the rally. The rally began moving to its destination after Imran Khan reached Liberty Chowk from Zaman Park under strict security.

The PTI rally will reach MAO College through Ferozepur Road and end at Nasir Bagh via Lower Mall Road.

A large crowd surrounded Khan’s vehicle as it reached the starting point of the procession, videos posted by the PTI on Twitter showed.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry shared a video of the procession.

https://twitter.com/DunyaNews/status/1653001344402481152

The Lahore administration has given conditional permission to the PTI for holding a procession. 

https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1652999334114279424

“The permission at the proposed event is being issued after submission of undertaking by the organisers to the effect that in case of any untoward incident he shall be held responsible,” said the NOC issued by Lahore Deputy Commissioner Rafia Haider to PTI’s Hammad Azhar on Sunday.

The former ruling party has announced that it would hold a procession in Peshawar, Islamabad, and Lahore. But the planned demonstration comes just 13 days before the provincial elections.

The NOC was issued subject to 25 conditions, which include a ban on speeches against constitutional offices/armed forces/judiciary.

Haider advised the PTI to take all required precautionary measures on the whole route of the rally for the safety of the participants and the people in view of the “overall security situation and threat alerts”.

Meanwhile, PTI’s rally led by Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi also started from Faizabad to mark International Labour Day. The rally will end at Committee Chowk. A large number of PTI workers and supporters are taking part in the rally. It is organized to pay reverence to the labour class. 

A number of containers were placed in Faizabad to prevent the rally from entering Islamabad. Starting from Murree Road, the rally is proceeding towards Committee Chowk. 

The PTI also holds additional gatherings in Peshawar and Karachi. KP PTI President Pervez Khattak and former national assembly speaker Asad Qaisar are leading the rally in Peshawar. 

The PTI workers led by Asad Umar along with laborers reportedly hold a march from Regal Chowk in the Saddar area to the Karachi Press Club.

Reporter: Irshad Qureshi, Tauqeer Akram