IHC informed of refusal to grant PTI permission for rally, sit-in

The district administration of the federal capital on Saturday denied permission to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold a protest and sit-in in Islamabad. 

The administration stated, in a separate petition filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by Advocate General Islamabad Jahangir Khan Jadoon, that there are reports from security agencies of a 'serious threat' to PTI chief Imran Khan's life, hence, in view of such serious threats, they cannot give permission for a rally or sit-in.

The application added that the deposed prime minister’s container during the party’s ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ march was attacked in Wazirabad, adding that the assailant has mentioned religious tendencies in his confessional statement.

A written confession of the assailant has also been made part of the application.

The administration furthered that it is feared that such individuals may enter the rally and there is a possibility that such violent actions might be repeated.

Read: IHC summons govt official over delay in long march NOC to PTI

Referring to the assassination of former governor of Punjab and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Salman Taseer, who was attacked and killed by one of his security guards in Islamabad's Kohsar market in 2011, and Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti who was killed in Islamabad by unidentified gunmen, the application stated that there have been such violent incidents in Islamabad before.

The district administration of Islamabad also requested the IHC to dismiss the petition of PTI seeking permission to hold a sit-in and a rally in the capital.

Earlier, the IHC had reserved its judgment on a PTI plea against the government's delay in issuing a no objection certificate (NOC) to the party for a sit-in and protest in the federal capital.

During the hearing, the court stated that measures should be taken to ensure that roads are not blocked and people do not face difficulties, further telling PTI's counsel that "protests is PTI's right, but the rights of citizens must also be ensure".

"In its orders, the Supreme Court has set the limits and restrictions of the protest rally, which is for the protection of the people," added the IHC CJ.