Government grants PTI conditional permission to hold protest on May 11

We've decided to allow this protest because PTI and Imran Khan have been extremely persistent, says Nisar.


Ali Sidiki May 08, 2014
Express News screen grab of Chaudhry Nisar from the press conference.

ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday night granted permission to  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold a protest against the alleged rigging in the May 11, 2013 election, according to a tweet by Radio Pakistan

Earlier on Thursday, while addressing a press conference, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the permission will be granted by Thursday night, Express News reported.

On Wednesday, PTI was denied permission by the Islamabad Administration. The No-Objection Certificate (NOC) that PTI had requested was rejected because the word jalsa was used in it.

During the press conference, Nisar criticised the "new tradition" of holding sit-ins and protests.

"This newfound tradition of holding protests and sit-ins isn't good. Not just for Pakistan, but for any country," he said.

Nisar also laid down a few conditions for PTI's protest, which include:

- No use of firearms or any kind of harmful weapons, including sticks.

"Use of firearms or any harmful weapon will not be permitted. If any vehicle is transporting a weapon, it will be seized and will not be allowed to pass through," Nisar said.

- Use of containers will not be allowed, except for those provided by the government.

- No infants are allowed.

"It's not fair for children to be dragged to these protests in this heat," the interior minister said.

- No fireworks.

"The only reason why we've decided to allow for this protest to go through is because PTI and Imran Khan have been extremely persistent," Nisar said firmly.

COMMENTS (8)

Jahangir Chauhan | 9 years ago | Reply

Appreciate government decision. Good luck PTI.

ejaz | 9 years ago | Reply

Bravo Ch. Nisar. You are great. PTI should avoid agitation.

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