'Don't fall into this trap': Imran postpones election rally in Lahore after govt imposes Section 144.

LAHORE -- In a surprise move, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan on Sunday postponed his election rally in Lahore after the interim government refused to take back the Section 144 imposed in the provincial capital.

Taking to Twitter, the PTI chief claimed that the Section 144 was imposed "illegally solely on PTI election campaign" despite other public activities ongoing in Lahore.

"Only Zaman Park has been surrounded by containers and heavy police contingent. Clearly, like 8 March, Punjab CM and police want to provoke clashes to file more sham FIRs against PTI leadership and workers and to use as pretext for postponing elections," said the former prime minister.

The PTI chief questioned how Section 144 can be imposed in the provincial capital despite the announcement of the election schedule.

"I AM TELLING ALL PTI WORKERS NOT TO FALL INTO THIS TRAP. Hence we have postponed rally till tomorrow," said the PTI chief.

Later, in a press conference, PTI leader Hammad Azhar confirmed the postponement of the rally and said that it might be "staged tomorrow or at a later date".

"We want peaceful elections and peaceful transfer of power and it is possible that the rally might be held tomorrow," said Azhar, adding that the authorities should open the roads.

The decision came after PTI challenged the Section 144 imposed by the Punjab government in Lahore in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

PTI leader Babar Awan filed the plea in the ECP on the instructions of party Chairman Imran Khan.

The Punjab government Saturday night again announced imposing Section 144 (banning of large gatherings) in Lahore to avoid any "untoward incidents".

This is the second time in less than a week that the interim government has imposed the restriction ahead of the election rally of the party - which has severely criticised the caretaker set-up for being "partial".

"The ECP should dispose of the implementation of Section 144 as it is illegal," said the petition.

It said that by imposing Section 144, the Punjab government is violating Para 15 of the Supreme Court's order. The petition also stated that the routes of the rally and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match are different.

"The PTI's rally will conclude at 5:30pm while the PSL will begin at 7pm," it said, adding that Section...