Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), to whom the Islamabad district administration had earlier granted permission for a rally in Tarnol area of the federal capital only to withdraw it later, at last said on Saturday that now it would hold the event, which was scheduled for today, after Muharram 10th, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that the party’s political committee had decided to postpone the rally, and now Islamabad High Court (IHC) had been approached to seek a new date for the power show after Ashura.
He said that the PTI workers were so enthusiastic about today’s public gathering, but sadly the administration denied the party its right to hold the rally.
Earlier, PTI stalwart and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan chaired the political committee meeting, which had been convened to opt for a new date after the IHC did not hold the hearing of the party’s petition, seeking contempt of court proceedings against the Islamabad administration for not allowing it to hold the public gathering in blatant violation of the court order.
Police take control of rally’s venue
On the other hand, a police contingent reached the venue for the rally and asked the PTI leaders and workers that since the event had been postponed, they better go home.
Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa had on Friday suspended the notification citing security concerns in view of the holy month of Muharram.
He had said that on July 3 arms and explosives had been recovered from Tarnol, the venue of the PTI’s public gathering.
Besides that, the chief commissioner had said that at a time when Muharram was only two to three days away, the administration was also confronted with a shortage of security personnel.
Earlier, Islamabad district administration after repeated requests had granted the PTI permission to hold a political gathering at Tarnol.
Reporters: Tayyab Saif and Ihtesham Kiani