Venue for PTI’s sit-in yet to be decided

Proposal under consideration to hold rally at Iqbal Park

RAWALPINDI:

The final decision on the selection of the venue for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s sit-in could not be made until Tuesday. However, preparations for the main stage were started at Allama Iqbal Park.

Convoys coming from Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir to take part in the party’s Haqeeqi Azadi, slated to reach the garrison city on November 26, will start arriving on November 24.

The district administration and law enforcement agencies have started consultations to ensure security for the sit-in. However, sources in the district administration told The Express Tribune that the location of the PTI’s sit-in could not be finalised.

Talks among the district administration, LEAs and the PTI’s central leadership were ongoing. The district administration and the LEAs have already apprised the PTI leaders of their concerns regarding setting up the main stage on Murree Road near Faizabad.

There has also been a proposal to land PTI chief Imran Khan's helicopter on the ground of Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi.

The sources said that the PTI chairman will reach Rawalpindi from Lahore by helicopter due to the critical security situation. On November 26, the Pakistani cricket team will play a practice session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium so his helicopter cannot land at the Pindi stadium.

The sources said that the district administration has suggested the ground of the agriculture university for the safe landing of Khan's helicopter, which will be given final approval by the PTI leadership and the Civil Aviation Authority.

On the other hand, on the instructions of Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister, Asif Mehmood, dozens of temporary washrooms have been made functional for the sit-in participants in the Allama Iqbal Park, while the equipment for the main stage of the sit-in has also been delivered.

The labourers preparing the stage have started connecting the iron pipes in the Allama Iqbal Park. After the location of the main stage is decided, the next phase of stage preparation will be started.

The sources said that if a decision is taken to install the stage in the middle of Muree Road then the traffic heading towards Islamabad from Murree Road will be diverted to alternative routes at Shamsabad.

They said that the Rawalpindi administration, police, special branch and other LEAs have started consultations and various proposals are being considered so that the traffic system of the twin cities can be maintained without any disruption during the sit-in and the security of the participants including the leaders can be ensured.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2022.