Permission for PTI’s Parade Ground rally 'subject to GHQ’s nod'

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) gave on Thursday an undertaking to the district administration of Islamabad and agreed to 39 conditions for holding a rally at the Parade Ground on July 2.

PTI Islamabad chapter president of the central secretariat Ali Nawaz Awan signed the undertaking – code of conduct – before Islamabad’s deputy commissioner taking full responsibility for any untoward incident and agreeing to be held responsible in case of violation of the agreement.

However, the no objection certificate (NOC) for using Parade Groud is subject to the permission of “Staff Duties Directorate, GHQ [General Headquarters], Rawalpindi,” according to the undertaking.

Through the code of conduct, the PTI has agreed that the gathering shall not disturb or disrupt the fundamental rights of citizens, including the right to freedom of movement, trade, business, education and not blocking any road – Expressway, Murree Road or service roads.

“The gathering shall not block the Islamabad Expressway at any cost owing to any reason whatsoever, since this is a main artery of the city including providing access to airport and northbound as well as westbound motorways,” read one of the conditions.

The former ruling party has agreed that the gathering shall end at 12:00 midnight on the night between July 2 and 3, 2022, stating that it will be the organiser’s duty to ensure the dispersal after the close of event.

Under the agreement, the organisers are bound to ensure that the participants are dispersed peacefully and they do not spend the night or subsequent nights at the Parade ground.

The PTI has agreed that the participants shall not enter the Red Zone of Islamabad; organisers are responsible for the internal security arrangements of the participants and providing the list of the participants to the local police in advance; they will be responsible for any damage caused to the public or private property.

In the code of conduct, it signed a condition that anti-state, religion or anti-ideology of Pakistan slogans shall not be made; effigy or flag of any party shall not be burnt; weapons not allowed; the law enforces can search any vehicle or person coming to attend gathering.

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The organisers will be responsible for any human injury caused inside the venue, it read, adding “any person of unsound mind will not be allowed inside the venue”. The undertaking says that the organisers will respect the fundamental human rights of other stakeholders and the public.

The administration has sought a list of the people, who will be allowed on stage, 12 hours in advance. Infants and children under 18 shall be with their lawful guardian, read another condition. “No littering at/near the venue of the event,” a condition stated, adding no banned substance shall be served at the venue.

“The event shall conform to the cultural values of Pakistan,” it said, adding details of security arrangements shall be provided to the SSP Operations 12 hours in advance.

It added that CCTV cameras shall be installed at the venue and location of the cameras and the control room shall be intimated to the ICT administration.

The main stage of the gathering and the venue will be technically swept by the Bomb Disposal Squad and ICT Police, it said, adding the organisers are responsible for the structural strength & safety of the stage.

“If because of violation of any term/condition, a situation arises which may resort to use of force, then we (organisers) will be responsible for any causality if occurs,” another condition read.

“In case of violation of any of the above terms and conditions, we organisers will be liable to face legal proceedings,” read the final condition.