Interior Ministry bans riotous rallies in Islamabad

Links processions in federal capital to written agreement with administration

ISLAMABAD:

In the wake of the mayhem created during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s long march in Islamabad this week, the government changed the rules of protests on Friday, imposing a permanent ban on the entry of rallies and processions that could spread disorder or create chaos in the federal capital.

An important meeting, chaired by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, and attended by top interior ministry and police officials, also decided that rallies in the capital would be allowed only after a written agreement between organisers and the Islamabad administration, Express News reported.

The participants of the meeting shared the details of the loss of life and property, attacks on police, Rangers and other law-enforcement personnel by miscreants and recoveries of weapons across the country during the PTI's long march on Wednesday.

The participants stressed the need for formulating a strategy to prevent violence in the guise of political protests, while the Islamabad administration was directed to take more effective measures to prevent any riots and disorder in the future

“Violence against police and law-enforcement personnel cannot be allowed,” Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said. “We cannot let miscreants hold the country hostage, therefore, in future, no riotous long march or procession will be allowed to enter Islamabad,” he added.

The meeting was attended by the interior secretary, the inspectors general of police of Punjab and Islamabad, besides the regional police officers of Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura districts.