PTI vows to 'go ahead' with Islamabad jalsa despite revocation of NOC

• NOC revoked on district intelligence committee’s report.
• Cities Bangladesh cricket team’s presence in Islamabad.
• Earlier, deputy commissioner had granted NOC to the PTI.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced holding jalsa in the federal capital tomorrow (Thursday) despite the revocation of the non-objection certificate (NOC) that was granted earlier to the Imran Khan-founded party.

In a statement, PTI Islamabad President Amir Mughal said that the district administration had cancelled the notification, but “we haven’t cancelled the jalsa”. “A peaceful political struggle is our constitutional and legal right.”

The district administration revoked the NOC granted to PTI on the “report of district intelligence committee,” according to an official statement.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Islamabad Chief Commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Ali Randhawa. The session also reviewed the NOC, granted by Deputy Commissioner Islamabad.

During the meeting, Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Nasir Rizvi pointed out the security concerns due to multiple events.

Citing strict security concerns, the administration noted that the Bangladesh cricket team is in Islamabad, adding that it is difficult to control the crowd of a jalsa.

“A few days ago, some protesters also reached the Supreme Court building,” it said, adding that in such circumstances, permission to hold public rallies cannot be given.

The development came a day before the public rally was scheduled, as announced by Adviser to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif.

Imran Khan, who was removed as prime minister via a parliamentary vote in 2022,  had "decided" to hold a public rally in the federal capital on August 22 following a prolonged struggle to hold a powershow in Islamabad.

A day earlier, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said he did not think the opposition party would get permission to do so.

“Viewing their past record, I don’t believe they will be allowed to rally in Islamabad,” the information minister said while speaking to the Geo News programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath".

Ostensibly, in response to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s rhetoric of holding the rally in the federal capital, come what may, he said it was not the first time as former KP chief minister Pervez Khattak too had come with cranes and modern equipment.

The minister had said despite the fact that Jamaat-e-Islami's (JI) recent sit-in protest against inflated electricity bills was peaceful, they were not allowed to enter Islamabad.

He suggested the KP government to focus on health, education and anti-terrorism activities in the province.

In the same programme, PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat had said they would not stop holding the rally on August 22, even if the government used force against them.

“The KP's caravan will be monumental and no one will be able to block it even if they try.” 

The PTI lawmaker had further said they would not be carrying any weapons or petrol bombs. Instead, he had added, they would be armless and peaceful.

“We will remain peaceful,” he had said. However, “if there is violence or firing, the entire Pakistan will rise up,” he had warned.