Apart from D-Chowk, Aabpara’s Khayaban-i-Surawardy is another favourite place for demonstrators to rally. The area’s traders have been calling for a ban on protests there, saying rallies badly affect businesses. PHOTO: ONLINE
As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) plans to renew a wave of protests against the alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections, the government has also fast-tracked efforts to limit such protest gatherings to a designated area within the capital.
The government has asked the city administration to identify and designate an area for demonstrations in the city. The administration has identified two sites as the possible designated protest sites — a portion of Fatima Jinnah Park and a football ground in Sports Complex on Kashmir Highway.
“Final selection is yet to be made by the interior ministry,” said Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil.
On January 9, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the National Assembly that a proposal to earmark a venue for public rallies in Islamabad was under consideration. The site, Nisar said, will be called “Democracy Park and Speech Corner”.
The ministry’s spokesperson Adil Sattar said a decision is yet to be made but most probably the site would be within F-9 Park. A meeting between the ministry and the ICT Administration will discuss the proposal today (Wednesday).
Apart from D-Chowk, Aabpara’s Khayaban-i-Surawardy is another favourite place for demonstrators to rally. The area’s traders have been calling for a ban on protests there, saying rallies badly affect businesses.
However, a senior government official said using parks or sports grounds for any other purpose would be a violation of the capital’s master plan.
Call for legislation
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Tuesday called for a complete ban on protests and rallies at D-Chowk and suggested sutiable legislation over the issue.
“Legislation should be carried out to avoid instances of torture and attack on government buildings by those who gather in the name of protests,” said Achakzai while speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2015.
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