JUI-F workers break into stadium after NOC rejected

The party plans to hold its FATA Youth Conference there

PESHAWAR: Workers of Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Friday forced their way into Tehmas Khan Stadium after the district administration denied them permission to hold their Fata Youth Conference inside the venue.

Party workers were seen breaking the locks on the main gate in the evening. Party flags were later raised across the stadium walls and chairs were arranged for participants.

JUI-F has scheduled its Fata Youth Convention on Saturday (today) and sent a request to the district administration for permission to use the venue, but the party’s provincial spokesperson Abdul Jalil Jan told The Express Tribune that the district administration had not given them permission through a no objection certificate (NOC).

“First the conference was scheduled outside Governor House, but on the request of the district administration, it was shifted to Tehmash Stadium. Now we have been denied an NOC to hold the event,” Jan said, adding, that workers entered the venue to make arrangements.

The spokesperson said JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman will address the gathering at 2pm, and that party workers from the tribal regions will be participating.

Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Saqib Aslam Raza told the media that the stadium comes under the authority of the Directorate of Sports and the district administration has nothing to do with it.

Sports Director General Junaid Khan told The Express Tribune that renovation work was under way at the stadium and hosting an event could disturb the construction work.

Furthermore, he said there is a ban in place on holding political gathering inside sports complexes.