PTI back on track with Bagh-e-Jinnah rally after NOC
PHOTO: EXPRESS
Following a day of twists, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to hold the rally at Karachi’s Jinnah Ground on Sunday, after earlier refusing the venue, citing prolonged delays in approval by Sindh government.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who arrived in Karachi on Friday for a three-day visit to Sindh, had initially announced that the rally would be held at Bagh-e-Jinnah, subject to permission from the provincial government and local administration.
The issue arose when PTI’s request to hold the rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah was not approved in time. The party subsequently announced plans to organise the gathering outside the public gate of Mazar-e-Quaid. However, in a later development, the Sindh government issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) permitting the rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah, prompting PTI to reverse its decision and confirm the event at the originally sought venue.
PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar confirmed that the rally will now be held at Bagh-e-Jinnah on Sunday. Speaking to Express, he said the gathering would be addressed by CM Afridi along with other party leaders, adding that the rally is scheduled to begin at 4:00pm.
Raja Azhar appealed to the public to participate in the rally and said the party had begun making arrangements for the event. He said the administration granted permission at a very late stage, which led PTI to initially plan the gathering at the Mazar-e-Quaid gate on Shahrah-e-Quaidin.
“After consultations with the central leadership, it was decided to hold the rally at the Bagh-e-Jinnah ground adjacent to Mazar-e-Quaid,” he said, adding that preparations at the venue were now under way.
Meanwhile, Sindh Interior Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar issued a warning to PTI regarding the rally, stating that permission had been granted strictly for Bagh-e-Jinnah.
According to a spokesperson, the interior minister said the Sindh government would take strict action if any rally was held on roads. He added that PTI must confine the event to the approved location and that any attempt to challenge the writ of the government would not be allowed.
The day saw several twists and turns as PTI, after permission to hold a rally had not been granted by Saturday afternoon, cancelled its plans for Bagh-e-Jinnah and announced that the rally would instead be held at the public gate of Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday at 2pm.
سندھ حکومت کا دوہرا معیار دیکھیں ایک طرف کہتے ہیں کہ جلسہ کریں ہم جب جلسہ گاہ پہنچے ہیں تو پولیس نے دروازے بند کردیے ہیں۔ pic.twitter.com/G3lHTMUTF7
Addressing a press conference at Bagh-e-Jinnah on Saturday, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh criticised the provincial authorities for what he described as obstruction of the party’s political activities.
Sheikh said that following the announcement of the K-P chief minister’s Sindh visit, the provincial government offered protocol and security, but the party clarified that it only sought constitutional and political freedom to engage with the public.
He said formal applications had been submitted to the deputy commissioner East for permission to hold a gathering at Bagh-e-Jinnah, adding security fees amounting to Rs2.5 million were also deposited with the Mazar-e-Quaid committee.
“Despite fulfilling all legal requirements, written permission or an NOC was not granted. At 5:15pm, the gate of Bagh-e-Jinnah was suddenly closed and police blocked the entry of equipment,” said the PTI Sindh president.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf sends back equipment after cancelling rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah. Photo: Express
Announcing the change of venue, Sheikh said the party would now hold its rally at the public gate of Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday, January 11, at 2pm instead of the previously scheduled 4pm. He said K-P chief minister would attend and address the gathering.
باغ جناح کے اندر نہیں باغ جناح کے باہر چار بجے نہیں دو بجے تمام کراچی والے پہنچیں انشاءاللہ جلسہ تو ہوگا ۔۔۔ pic.twitter.com/qOCGRch6dp
He urged Karachi residents to participate in a “peaceful and robust” manner. “PTI is a peaceful political party. The entire city witnessed thousands stepping out without damaging a single item. The public reception shows that PTI remains at the forefront. Our leader is Imran Khan, and we stand for the Constitution, democracy and nonviolent struggle,” he said.
Sheikh said the K-P chief minister and the party delegation are in Sindh to convey Imran Khan’s message to the public through a street movement.
Read More: K-P CM Afridi says PTI to hold Karachi rally despite no written approval
Speaking alongside PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar, General Secretary Arsalan Khalid, Fahim Khan, Balochistan President Dawood Shah Kakar, Alamgir Khan, Advocate Shujaat Ali Khan and other senior leaders, Sheikh said the reception in Karachi was “proud and historic”.
“On January 9, Karachi’s residents demonstrated their support for Imran Khan’s message. It proves that the city has always been, and will remain, Imran Khan’s stronghold,” he said.
However, the situation took another turn when the Sindh government granted permission to hold the rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah after PTI had made arrangements for the alternate venue.
The Sindh government on Saturday evening issued an NOC allowing PTI to hold a public rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah. Senior Provincial Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon said the rally would take place on Sunday and that the NOC had been issued with specific conditions.
According to the conditions, organisers will be responsible for maintaining law and order during the rally. Provocative speeches, objectionable content and sectarian remarks will not be permitted, while speeches against Pakistan or state institutions will also not be allowed.
The organisers will be required to ensure smooth traffic flow and conclude the programme within the designated time. The district administration has reserved the right to cancel the permission on security grounds.
Later, Fouzia Siddiqui, PTI Karachi spokesperson, told The Express News that despite the Sindh government granting permission to hold a rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah, the party will not use the venue as it can no longer prepare for the event.
The PTI leadership has decided the party will now hold a rally at the Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum’s public gate at 2pm on Sunday.
Lawlessness won’t be tolerated, says Sindh minister
Sindh Minister for Local Government, Housing and Town Planning Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said all political parties are free to carry out peaceful political activities in the province but none would be allowed to take the law into their hands.
Speaking to journalists at Karachi Expo Centre, Nasir Shah said the K-P chief minister represented the mandate of the people of his province and that, on the instructions of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, protocol was being provided to him.
He said PTI’s provincial leadership had been clearly informed that blocking roads under the pretext of receptions would not be allowed, warning that the law would take its course if the public was inconvenienced.
Nasir Shah said Sindh had always been hospitable and that despite political differences with PTI, there was no personal animosity. He added efforts are being made to ensure the K-P chief minister’s visit to Sindh remains peaceful.