PTI doesn’t get DC nod to hold rally in Islamabad over security issues

ISLAMABAD: The deputy commissioner of the Federal Capital has refused to allow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold a rally on March 30 in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), the DC office said, adding that the PTI leadership had applied for permission for March 23, which was disallowed.

Police sources claimed a civilian intelligence agency has indicated that the PTI leadership could still stage a public meeting on 30th March, even after the denial of permission from the office of deputy commissioner.

The DC Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon, when contacted, said that the application of PTI leadership had been denied over serious security issues.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Islamabad, Dr. Akbar Nasir, when contacted, said a group of PTI activists has been arrested when they blocked a road in the jurisdiction Tarnol police station and FIRs lodged against them. “We are responsible for maintaining law and order at all costs,” the IGP concluded.

PTI leader Aamir Mughal lodged an application with the deputy commissioner, requesting to allow permission for holding a rally on 30th March. The district administration has made it clear that given the law and order situation, protests cannot be allowed at any place, including D-Chowk.

The IGP warned the PTI activists to avoid holding rallies without getting lawful permission from the concerned authorities or stringent action would be taken against them.

After a threat was hurled by PTI leader Asad Qaiser, the law enforcement agencies have decided to beef up security measures in and around sensitive locations, including Red Zone, to avoid any untoward incident.

Qaiser had earlier said at a ceremony on March 23: “Anyone who thinks of imposing decisions on PTI has a misconception. The time when decisions were imposed by will and force has passed.”