Rallying cry: To ‘facilitate’ protests, govt to set up a public corner

The area in Fatima Jinnah Park will be able to accommodate 20,000 people.


Obaid Abbasi January 22, 2012

ISLAMABAD:


A portion of Fatima Jinnah Park will be designated for public protests and rallies. The area, being termed the “Public Corner”, will be developed by the government in collaboration with the Islamabad Capital Territory administration. 


Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amir Ali Ahmed told The Express Tribune that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has designated 78 kanals for the project from an undeveloped area of the park. The proposal for the project has already been sent forward for approval, he added.

“The corner is meant to facilitate the public who hold protests in different areas of the city,” he said adding that Member Environment and Director Parks will collaborate with the ICT on the project.

The corner will have a single stage that will serve as a rallying point for protesters. Once completed, it will be inaugurated by the prime minister, he added.

“There would be a code of conduct; abusive language and hate speeches which promote sectarian violence will be banned,” he stated, adding that the area will be able to accommodate 20,000 people at any given time, thus easily accommodating routine protests in the city.

He said the area will be divided into six points, one of which will be reserved for media. Signboards for
guiding the public to the spot would also be installed, he added.

After the completion of the park, no protest would be allowed to be staged in any other part of the city, except for special permission granted by the government, the DC said. “Islamabad is losing its beauty because of the continuous protests along Constitutional Avenue so this space will help people assemble at one designated place.”

CDA spokesperson Ramzan Sajid said that the city’s administration took the initiative and the civic body only provided the requisite land.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik visited the site on Saturday to inspect the progress in the project so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2012.

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