ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan has once again instructed party workers to prepare for a power show in the federal capital, with plans to hold the event this week.
Addressing a press conference at KP House on Sunday, Barrister Mohammad Saif, Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, announced that the power show is scheduled for August 22 in Islamabad. However, he expressed concerns that the Islamabad district administration might once again deny PTI permission to hold the gathering.
For several months, PTI has been attempting to secure permission for a public meeting in Islamabad, but without success. In March, after multiple failed attempts to get a response from the district administration, the party sought intervention from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to allow the event. Despite this, the district administration refused to grant permission. The administration later offered PTI the date of 27th Ramazan for the event, but the party declined, arguing that workers would be occupied with religious observances in mosques.
Last month, PTI was forced to postpone its planned power show in Tarnol after the Islamabad administration revoked its no-objection certificate at the last minute and sealed the venue. In response, PTI filed a contempt petition against the district administration for canceling the permission. The court directed the government to make a decision on the protest venue in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon later clarified in a letter that the closure of certain routes for the event could negatively impact the image of the capital and the country, as well as infringe on travelers’ fundamental rights.
Barrister Saif emphasized during the press conference that the district administration is obligated to permit political parties to hold public meetings in the city. He lamented that PTI has repeatedly been denied the right to peacefully assemble in the federal capital
