The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expressed its resolve to continue on with its planned rally in Islamabad’s Tarnol area today, despite the sudden revocation of their permit by the capital city’s authorities.
The PTI took the decision decision during a a high-level consultative meeting held at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) house.
The meeting followed the district administration’s revocation of the permission granted to PTI for public gathering scheduled at Turnol Chowk area on Peshawar Road.
Following the meeting, the Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, addressed the media, confirming the party’s plans.
“We will approach the high court in the morning,” he said.
Ayub detailed that party workers would start arriving at 2 pm, with convoys expected to reach Tarnol by 3 pm.
“By 6 pm, thousands of workers will gather at Tarnol. Regardless of the obstacles, we will hold our rally,” he asserted.
In response to the permit cancellation, a large police contingent reached the rally site in Tarnol, clearing the area and dismantling the stage.
Containers placed for the stage were also removed.
The police stated that the site was being cleared due to the absence of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the rally. Barbed wire and other materials were also removed under police supervision.
According to details, the Islamabad administration had granted permission for the PTI gathering at Tarnol, but it has now revoked the permit due to security concerns and terrorism threats.
A high-level meeting was convened under the chairmanship of the Islamabad deputy commissioner to assess the current security situation, attended by security officials. However, no representatives from political parties participated in the meeting despite invitations.
On Thursday, after the NOC was issued, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) disposed of the party’s petition for the issuance of NOC for a meeting. Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court heard the petition seeking permission for the PTI’s meeting in the federal capital.
During the hearing, the court was informed that the district administration of Islamabad had given permission. The state counsel told the court that the PTI has been permitted to hold a rally on July 6 near Tarnol Chowk.
