PTI’s July 2 rally subject to GHQ’s approval

Former ruling party agrees to 39 conditions for Parade Ground rally

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) rally at Parade Ground on July 2 (Saturday) is subject to the approval from the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, according to the district administration.

The no-objection certificate (NOC) noted that the permission is conditional to the approval by the Staff Duties Directorate of the GHQ for using the Parade Ground.

The district administration issued an NOC to the former ruling party on Thursday after it gave an undertaking, wherein it agreed to 39 conditions for holding a rally at the Parade Ground.

PTI Islamabad President 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 for facing legal proceedings in case of violation of the agreement.

Through the code of conduct, the party has agreed that the gathering shall not disturb or disrupt the fundamental rights of citizens, including the right to freedom of movement, trade and business, and education, and has assured that it will not block 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 the main artery of the city, including providing access to airport and northbound as well as westbound motorways,” one of the conditions read.

The former ruling party agreed that the gathering shall end at 12 midnight, stating that it will be the organiser’s duty to ensure the dispersal after the event ends.

It nodded that the participants shall not indulge in violence or clashes. 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 also 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; and that they will be responsible for any damage caused to the public or private property.

In the code, it signed a condition that no anti-state, religious, and anti-national slogans shall be made; effigy or flag of any party shall not be burnt; weapons would not be allowed, and the law enforcers can search any vehicle or person coming to attend the gathering.

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The organisers will be responsible for any human injury caused inside the venue, it read, adding that any person of unsound mind will not be allowed inside the venue.

The undertaking also stated that the organisers will respect the fundamental human rights of other stakeholders and the general 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(s), another condition read. “No littering at/near the venue of the event,” a condition stated, adding that no banned substance shall be served at the venue.

“The event shall conform to the cultural values of Pakistan,” it said, adding that 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 that the organisers are responsible for the structural strength and safety of the stage.

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

Separately, PTI Central Secretary General Asad Umar urged the people to come out of their houses on July 2 to send a strong message that Pakistan was no longer a country where governments were being changed by conspiring behind closed doors.

Umar, in his video message on Thursday, urged the people of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to ensure their participation in the Parade Ground rally on Saturday evening. He said that the people of the twin cities, together with PTI Chairman Imran Khan, should give a clear and unequivocal message that it was a changed Pakistan.