PTI shifts March 27 rally from D-Chowk to Parade Ground

• PTI says venue shifted in light of the expected number of people.
• Section 144 already in force in capital, Red Zone included in it.
• PTI leaders have touted the rally to be massive.

ISLAMABAD: The ruling PTI Monday announced to change the venue of the March 27 rally — touted to be massive by party leaders — from D-Chowk, which is in the Red Zone, to Parade Ground.

In a letter to Islamabad's deputy commissioner, shared on PTI's official Twitter account, the party's central secretariat administrator Zahid Hussain Kazmi asked the official to make necessary arrangements for the gathering.

"We will hold the rally on March 27 at Parade Ground instead of D-Chowk as the Parade Ground will be the best venue for the number of people who will participate in the rally," the PTI said.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had tasked party leaders to gather one million people for the rally, with Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry saying that it would be a small "referendum" in the face of the no-confidence motion against the premier.

PM Imran Khan, addressing a rally in Swat last week, had urged the nation to reach Islamabad on March 27 to tell the world that Pakistanis "stand with the truth and are against corruption".

The PTI has called their public gathering "Amr-bel-Maroof" in response to the Opposition’s no-trust motion to show support to the prime minister.

In light of the Opposition and the ruling PTI's plans to hold rallies in Islamabad's Red Zone, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) had moved a plea in the apex court seeking its intervention to prevent "anarchy".

But in today's hearing, Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan told the court the public would not be allowed to enter the Red Zone area during the assembly session.

The top court, as well as the attorney general, during the hearing, urged the government and the Opposition to resolve their matters amicably.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said the assembly's "wars" should be fought in the assembly.

During the hearing, Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Qazi Jamilur Rehman also informed the court that the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) Section 144 was in force in the Federal Capital, while the Red Zone was also included in it.