Letter of approval: PTI balks at seeking NoC for Azadi march

'Even if we receive the letter, we won’t ask them for permission to hold the Azadi march,' says Shireen Mazari

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will not ask the Islamabad district for permission to hold its Azadi march in the federal capital, the party’s spokesperson Dr Shireen Mazari said on Monday.

Earlier, chief commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Mujahid Sherdil had issued a letter requesting PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to consult the administration before holding a public event in the city. However, the PTI spokesperson denied that the party had received the letter from the ICT administration.

“Even if we receive the letter, we won’t ask them for permission to hold the Azadi march,” she told The Express Tribune.

Neither PTI nor PAT have sought permission from Islamabad district administration for holding their planned public events.

ICT’s letter

In its letter, the ICT administration reminded both parties that all public rallies are banned in the city, because of the imposition of Section 144.

“The ICT administration has neither received any request from PTI to hold any public event in ICT nor has permission being given under the law,” the letter said.

The administration informed the PTI that since a large number of people were expected to participate in the rally, it is imperative to ensure timely arrangements to manage traffic flow.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2014.