PTI once again postpones 'power show' in Islamabad

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday postponed its power show in the federal capital after the DC Islamabad revoked a no-objection certificate (NOC) issued to hold a political rally citing "security concerns".

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Azam Swati said that the party leadership has decided to postpone the rally at Tarnol and it "would be held on September 8".

Earlier, despite the suspension of the NOC, the party had vowed to hold a public rally in the federal capital against the incarceration of its founder Imran Khan.

However, the authorities suspended the NOC after a meeting chaired by Islamabad Chief Commissioner Chaudhary Muhammad Ali Randhawa.

During the meeting, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ali Nasir Rizvi, noted that multiple events in Islamabad raise fear of security breaches.

IGP said it would be difficult to control the 'jalsa crowd' at a time when the Bangladesh cricket team is in Islamabad.

Meanwhile, to maintain the law and order situation, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had reviewed the security plan and warned protesters to prevent entering the red zone.

“Protest is a right of citizens, but it should be held in an appropriate place, and demonstration should not disrupt the routine of people,” said Naqvi while addressing the meeting in Islamabad.

The Islamabad district administration had decided to keep all public and educational institutions closed on Thursday (today).

On the other hand, PTI President Islamabad chapter Amir Mughal said that the district administration had cancelled the NOC, but “we have not cancelled the Jalsa.”

“A peaceful political struggle is our constitutional and legal right,” he said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

However, in a fresh development, the party has postponed the rally on the direction of founder Imran Khan.

It is pertinent to mention here that PTI has been attempting to hold public rallies in Islamabad for weeks, but their plans were cancelled thrice due to security concerns.