PTI workers upset with leadership

Activists disappointed over Islamabad rally delay, say they were fully prepared

PESHAWAR:

The postponement of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in Islamabad has left party workers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa disillusioned with the party leadership. Disappointment and anger were some of the sentiments they expressed when taking about the decision not to march on Islamabad to Thursday.

In Bannu, party workers blocked roads while protesting, and sources have claimed that K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Asad Qaiser were also disheartened by the postponement of the rally. These leaders of the K-P chapter of the party had decided to hold the rally in Islamabad despite the cancellation of the no objection certificate (NOC).

PTI's rally was scheduled to take place in Islamabad's Tarnol on Thursday, and party leaders had previously announced that even if the government did not issue an NOC, the demonstration would carry on.

Party leaders had made a unanimous decision to hold the rally in Islamabad at all costs and had instructed workers to overcome all obstacles to reach the rally venue. However, on Thursday morning, PTI leaders announced that the rally had been canceled on the instructions of the party's founding chairman, and postponed it till September 8.

The decision to cancel the rally did not sit well with party workers, who strongly protested in Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, and Bannu. On social media, party workers also criticised this decision. The PTI activists were fuming over the fact that they were fully prepared to attend the rally, but the party leaders cancelled it at the last minute.

Workers described the leaders' behavior as undemocratic, knowing that the NOC would be canceled and they would not be allowed to hold the rally. This time, workers had made full preparations, determined to reach the venue in Islamabad regardless of the circumstances.

The workers said they were well aware that the government would never issue an NOC for the rally, but they were determined to reach Islamabad at any cost.

On the other hand, sources say that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is unhappy over the postponement of the rally. Party sources indicate that he and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser had agreed to attend the rally in Islamabad regardless of the situation.

Sources revealed that Asad Qaiser and Ali Amin Gandapur had agreed that the rally would take place wherever the administration allowed it, and also resolved not to take the law into their own hands.

As on Wednesday, the PTI K-P leaders seemed certain that the march to Islamabad would continue as scheduled.

PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat declared that the rally would proceed regardless of government opposition, stating that the caravan from K-P would be so large that no force could stop it.

Marwat assured that the rally would be peaceful, with participants unarmed. However, he warned that any violence or firing would provoke a nationwide response.

Convoys were scheduled to depart from Swabi, led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. PTI workers had been instructed to reach Swabi by 2:00pm.

Chief Minister Gandapur declared the action of the Islamabad commissioner to cancel the NOC for the PTI rally as illegal. He announced that he would participate in the rally, joining from Swabi in the form of a procession.

He announced that he would personally lead the rally and that they would hold the gathering at Tarnol Chowk at all costs. "We will show them that Imran Khan is our leader. Imran Khan was first our love, then became our passion, and now he has become our determination. Today will prove that power lies with the people," Gandapur declared.

The Islamabad district administration decided not to grant permission to the PTI to hold its rally in Islamabad. A notification on the decision was issued by the chief commissioner.

According to the document, the decision was made based on the recommendations of the District Intelligence Committee.

The committee held a meeting, chaired by the chief commissioner, and it was also attended by the Islamabad and Islamabad inspector general and deputy commissioner.