KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has blamed the Sindh government for submitting "incorrect information" in response to a petition challenging the party's rally at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi.
PTI leaders Naeemul Haque and Arif Alvi were speaking to the media at the planned site of the rally on Wednesday.
"The government intentionally gave the court wrong information which shows contempt and malafide intent," Haque said.
The party leaders said the petitioner had stated that the party's rally would be inside the Mazar grounds so it would hinder people who may want to offer prayers at the mausoleum on December 25.
Party lawyers said they had not seen a copy of the judge's order and were unclear on the exact ruling but believe that there is a stay order on the rally. Since they did not have the order, the lawyers were unable to say whether they would be appealing the decision in the SHC or reappearing before the court to ask them to strike down the stay order or appeal to the Supreme Court.
Haque and Alvi said that Sindh Home Minister Manzaoor Wassan and Home Department Secretary Waseem Ahmed had told them they had permission to go ahead with the rally.
(Read: Christmas day special: Home dept finally succumbs and says yes to PTI rally)
Haque also showed an email from Faridullah Khan, the secretary of the Ministry of National Heritage and Integration - which controls the rally site - which states that the PTI had permission to go ahead with the rally.
According to the party, "If we didn't have permission, why did the government not shut down our preparations at the site. We brought in containers here, our workers have been meeting here and we have held press conferences at the site."
Haque said the party had been in touch with the police and administration for the rally arrangements.
Haque also said that, "We have heard that the petitioner - Murtaza Lakhani - is close to Babar Awan and the new SCBA president Yasin Azad".
The party says it is optimistic that the court will rule in its favour. Haque was unable to tell reporters party chief Imran Khan's stance on the issue since he had not managed to get in touch with him as Khan also had a press conference scheduled at the same time.
PTI to appeal in Supreme Court
PTI Deputy Secretary Imran Ismail says that the party will appeal in the Supreme Court tomorrow (Thursday).
He said that if the party is not granted permission, they will go ahead with the rally at a different venue.
The alternative venue is Shahra-e-Quaideen, said Ismail.
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COMMENTS (32)
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Please see the venue Map below: It iso utside Mazar
http://www.insaf.pk/Forum/tabid/53/forumid/56/tpage/1/view/topic/postid/135602/Default.aspx#135602
A shameful decision by the Court. I thought the courts are free in Pakistan. It is pathetic.
they r afraid from PTI.
Insha allah PTI will hold a rallly at mazar e quaid despite sindh govt hurdles.
@fahad: Do you want Foji raj in your city?
Why is PTI alleging that the court was submitted with wrong information. Obviously, they must have been heard by the court. They should have raised this point in their defense in the proceedings. I support peoples right to hold political events, but we all must respect law. Personally, i do not think that any political event should be held at National monuments. Secondly, if "Quaid-e-Azam Mazar Maintenance and Protection Ordinance 1971" particularly states that no such event can be held near the premises of the tomb, then why bash the judiciary or the Sindh government. A place across the road is around the premises of the tomb. Please behave reasonably, accusing everybody who does not hold the same love for a political party as you, does not make you look good in anyone's eyes. It's a humble request :)
@"Anti-Truth": SMQ was actually voted to be the vice chairman by members of the party, Imran Khan mentions this is a recent interview with Talat Hussain. Its very easy to criticize PTI, but that is probably because this party is the only one that cares about what people think, and answers to the people. You can criticize and question other parties all you want, but they do not consider themselves answerable and so people like you dont put them throuhg as much questioning.
The jalsa is NOT being held inside Mazar-e-Quaid gardens but in the ground across the road. Please see the Venue map here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150443676054527.360605.151626539526&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=10150444128979527&set=a.10150443676054527.360605.151626539526&type=1&theater
I think the High Court has taken a sensible decision, especially in view of the events at the PTI rally at Kasur. If the attendees of the Karachi rally were to loot the Mausoleum or destroy the grounds, Imran Khan is likely to go on tv and defend their behaviour by saying it was justified because of the inflation and the poverty in the country - and add that we are lucky they didn't loot all the neighbouring homes and markets as well!
@Ch Allah Dad Rather than taking the Kasur incidence as an alarm bell for your most favored PPP/PML-N governments, you are using it against PTI.Don't you think that the economic plight of the people is getting so worst with every passing day that they are resorting to snatching whatever comes their way? There is also a chance that few N-league miscreants might have triggered the stealing of chairs.Good luck to you for sticking with the graves of Bhuttos or with the kings of Raiwind.
@sam: wait for it haha...come on. it is the politicians in sindh. in lhr u should have seen how the gov n gov machinery cooperated - also admitted by pti members, judiciary has to consider the law - if U dont like it nothing can be done with that
Geo pti, genedo pml n ,mqm,ppp.
On my PTI friends demand, I humbly request Sindh Government to give them permission to hold rally near Mazar-e-Quaid. Also request government to please take necessary steps for security and saftery of Mazar-e-Quaid. In Jalsa too, They should chain all chairs together and carpets should be firmly nailed with ground.
Kasuri was responsible for the security of the place at kasur. PTI itself is not blamable.
If PTI does not say that court gave a biased decision, and if PTI says that court was provided with wrong information then why people are blaming the judiciary of being biased and dictatorship in judiciary. Grow up people. learn to face the opposition. Hold your temper instead of losing it. Although I hope court will decide in the favour of PTI but yet if it does not then please do not blame judiciary. Goof luck to PTI
Sorry for going off topic... Judging from some comments made above, I cant understand why does Karachi want to become apolitical? The judiciary can't ban parties, using the army is a bad idea, isn't democracy the right way to defeat politicians?
Ch Allah Dad ... you always seems to me pessimistic ... either its the matter of Shahid Afridi entrance in cricket team or the matter of revolution of Imran Khan.
Ch Allah Dad ... apney naam ki hi kuch laj rakh lo!
@Ch Allah Daad: the city where hundreds of people have been killed...that doesn't disturb you...this jalsa for the right cause does!
@sam: Question to lover and fan club of azeeem leader, IK. Is judiciary free or not?
Shame on sind govt.....
@Ch Allah Daad: Instead of thinking whether government should allow PTI to hold rally, the government should think of providing security to them.
If I agree with your point then we all should sit in homes in the days of "Juloos" (Aashura etc) fearing about our own security!
@Imran: not funny.
@sam,
lolz now the so called "Free judiciary" has become biased, just becuz of the fact that they turned down PTI request. I support that fact that PTI should be allowed to hold JALSA at any site but it seems strange that PTI supporters are turning out to be just like PML (N). If something comes in favor its good otherwise not!!! get a life and seriously re-think.
All political and religious rallies (all sects) should be banned in karachi. Love and help karachi.
What if after the meeting, the mausoleum disappears.
A great yoker by the government but i am sure IK can hit it for a huge six !!!!!! GO PTI GO IK ... we karachiites fully support u in the 25th dec rally
The court has been provided with wrong information. The jalsa will go ahead as planned, provided the SC intervenes and gives a fair judgement.
After yesterday's incidents at Kasoor, I request government never let them hold rally near Mazar-e-Quaid. Its our most precious asset and I am very worried about its safety and security.