ICT put on notice in PTI jalsa case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the Islamabad chief commissioner and deputy commissioner regarding a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking to change the venue of their upcoming jalsa in the capital.

The court has sought their response by next week. IHC's Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the party's petition, which called for a change in the venue for their political gathering.

During the hearing, the state counsel informed the court that the district administration had granted PTI permission to hold a jalsa in Tarnol on August 22. However, PTI's lawyer, Shoaib Shaheen, argued that they had originally requested to hold the rally on August 13 at F-9 Park or on Kashmir Highway. Although the date has been moved to August 22, PTI still wishes to change the location to F-9 Park or Kashmir Highway instead of Tarnol.

The court has issued notices to the relevant parties and adjourned the hearing until next week.

Last week, the Islamabad deputy commissioner denied the party's request to hold a jalsa. In a letter addressed to PTI, the deputy commissioner/district magistrate cited several reasons for the decision.

The letter highlighted that Islamabad houses more than 60 embassies and offices of various international organisations. Diplomats and employees from these entities frequently move around the city, and political gatherings, processions, and rallies cause significant disruption by blocking important highways. This not only inconveniences these individuals but also damages the image of the federal capital.