PTI given go-ahead for November 30 rally: Nisar
Nisar says stage to be dismantled when rally ends, adds that participants should not enter Red Zone
ISLAMABAD:
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar announced that a no-objection certificate (NoC) has been issued to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to go ahead with its rally scheduled to take place on November 30.
Earlier, PTI representatives in negotiations with the Islamabad district administration officials failed to get an NoC being issued for the party’s planned November 30 rally on Thursday after the former insisted on moving the venue closer to Parliament.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil had said all that remained was for the PTI to sign an affidavit containing 42 clauses discussed in the meeting. “The NoC will be issued after PTI signs the affidavit.”
Nisar said, “Militants have threatened to target Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s November 30 rally.”
“Intelligence reports suggest that militants could target not only PTI’s rally, but the capital as a whole,” he added.
“The government would seal the venue where the PTI rally would take place with containers, as there were several threats made by militants -- not only to participants, but to the whole of Islamabad as well,” the interior minister said.
“If there is any untoward situation, it is the responsibility of the PTI administration,” Nisar said, adding that PTI workers would be responsible for security matters inside the venue of the rally.
He said both the Islamabad Capital Territory and PTI reached an agreement of the rally being peaceful.
He also made it clear that there was no deal between the government and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri to call off the dharna in Islamabad.
“There was not deal between PAT and the government,” Nisar said. “It was his [Qadri’s] own decision to call off the dharna,” he added.
Nisar, during a press conference on Friday, read out a list of 42 clauses that were signed by the PTI and the ICT in order for the rally to take place. These are as follows:
The minister further said that the clauses are inclusive of the organisers being responsible for any human injury caused inside the venue.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar announced that a no-objection certificate (NoC) has been issued to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to go ahead with its rally scheduled to take place on November 30.
Earlier, PTI representatives in negotiations with the Islamabad district administration officials failed to get an NoC being issued for the party’s planned November 30 rally on Thursday after the former insisted on moving the venue closer to Parliament.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil had said all that remained was for the PTI to sign an affidavit containing 42 clauses discussed in the meeting. “The NoC will be issued after PTI signs the affidavit.”
Nisar said, “Militants have threatened to target Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s November 30 rally.”
“Intelligence reports suggest that militants could target not only PTI’s rally, but the capital as a whole,” he added.
“The government would seal the venue where the PTI rally would take place with containers, as there were several threats made by militants -- not only to participants, but to the whole of Islamabad as well,” the interior minister said.
“If there is any untoward situation, it is the responsibility of the PTI administration,” Nisar said, adding that PTI workers would be responsible for security matters inside the venue of the rally.
He said both the Islamabad Capital Territory and PTI reached an agreement of the rally being peaceful.
He also made it clear that there was no deal between the government and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri to call off the dharna in Islamabad.
“There was not deal between PAT and the government,” Nisar said. “It was his [Qadri’s] own decision to call off the dharna,” he added.
Nisar, during a press conference on Friday, read out a list of 42 clauses that were signed by the PTI and the ICT in order for the rally to take place. These are as follows:
The stage will be on Parade Avenue and will face Jinnah Avenue
At the end of the rally, at 11:59 hours, the stage at the venue will be dismantled, and it will be the responsibility of the organisers to ensure that there is no stampede by the protesters.
Organisers are to ensure that protesters do not trespass, and should not enter the Red Zone; otherwise, security forces would react as per the law.
It will be the responsibility of the organisers to ensure that no public or private property is destructed.
The safety, welfare and protection of children and dispersing the crowd at the end of the rally is the responsibility of organisers.
The organisers should acknowledge that the venue of the rally is a construction site, and should thus take enhanced precautionary measures for protection of protesters.
Participants should not enter the Red Zone, and should neither completely or partially block Constitution Avenue.
The minister further said that the clauses are inclusive of the organisers being responsible for any human injury caused inside the venue.