ICT administration seeks details of PTI's protest against ECP

Party has announced a protest at Islamabad's D-Chowk on October 4 against Election Commission of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Capital Territory administration sought on Wednesday details of the proposed programme of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on October 4 against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The administration in its fresh letter to PTI chief's coordinator Col (retd) Yunus Ali Raza asked for details of the party's plan for necessary coordination and examination under the relevant law.

Read: Another dharna: Imran sets Oct 4 ‘deadline’ for ECP members to resign

Islamabad deputy commissioner had earlier informed the PTI leadership that due to precarious security environment, restrictions are imposed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in ICT and all public gathering rallies are banned.

Political gatherings and staging rallies are not allowed in the red-zone area of the federal capital. Any public event in any part outside the red-zone needs prior coordination for necessary security arrangements, code of conduct and traffic plan.

On August 29, issuing an ultimatum to the country’s top electoral body, PTI chairman Imran Khan had announced a demonstration outside ECP headquarters if the party’s demands were not met. Addressing a gathering in Lahore, Imran had said his party would contest all by-polls and local bodies elections, but not under the existing ECP set up.

Reiterating his stance on ECP, the PTI chief had said the polling body acted as if it was election commission of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He said the polling body had until October 4 to replace the existing ECP members, adding that his party would decide its future course of action on October 4, depending on whether the ECP meets its demands or not.