ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, announced on Sunday that imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has “decided” to hold a public rally in Islamabad on August 22.
During a press conference in Islamabad, Saif assured that the rally would not lead to any law-and-order issues and emphasized that the party would strive to adhere to legal guidelines.
This announcement comes after a prolonged struggle by PTI to secure permission for a public gathering in the federal capital, where authorities have repeatedly denied requests due to security concerns.
Earlier in June, the Islamabad High Court’s Justice Babar Sattar directed the PTI and the city administration to resolve the issue amicably, resulting in the deputy commissioner granting permission for the rally.
However, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa later suspended the no-objection certificate (NOC), citing the start of Muharram and local security concerns.
Following this, PTI sought contempt of court proceedings against those responsible for the NOC suspension. The party’s subsequent plea for permission to hold a public meeting on August 13 was also contested.
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Saif’s announcement follows a similar statement earlier this month by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who declared that the party would not be stopped from holding a rally. Saif mentioned that a large number of people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are expected to attend the event.
He added that while the party is making efforts to work with the administration and courts, it is crucial not to exacerbate tensions by imposing further restrictions.
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