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- The party was scheduled to hold a public rally on the outskirts of Islamabad to press for the release of Khan who is in jail since August
- It has filed a petition in Islamabad High Court seeking contempt proceedings against the Islamabad administration for revoking permission
ISLAMABAD: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Saturday announced it was postponing a public rally in Islamabad after the district administration revoked permission for it.
The PTI was scheduled to hold a public gathering on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital for the release of its jailed leader and had secured a permission for it from the district administration on the directives of the Islamabad High Court.
However, hours after the party began preparations for the rally at the designated venue, the Islamabad administration on Friday announced revocation of permission, citing security situation, the start of Muharram and reports of law enforcement agencies.
“PTI jalsa (rally) which was to be held today in Islamabad is postponed till a further date is announced,” Khan’s party said in a statement.
The PTI has moved the Islamabad High Court to initiate contempt proceedings against the Islamabad district administration and police for violating the court orders for a permission to hold the rally.
“All the respondents have started creating hindrance in holding jalsa having connivance with each other from the start of issuance of NoC [no-objection certificate],” the party said in its petition.
It said the reasons cited for the cancelation of the NOC were “malafide,” “based on ulterior motives,” a result of “political victimization” and a “clear contempt” of the court orders. But the petition could not be heard immediately due to unavailability of the IHC chief justice.
Meanwhile, the party convened a meeting of its political committee to discuss the matter and devise a strategy to deal with it, later announcing at a press conference the rally had been postponed.
“We have unanimously decided, as we have moved the court and we got the NOC from the court, that’s why for the time being, today’s public rally that was scheduled to take place at 6pm under the auspices of Tahaffuz-e-Aain-e-Pakistan, we are postponing that rally,” PTI Chairman Gohar Khan said.
The PTI, which aims to mobilize public for the release of its leader, has been struggling to hold rallies across the country since August last year, when Khan was arrested on graft charges.
The party says it has been facing a crackdown and mass arrest of its members for standing by Khan. Pakistani authorities deny the allegations.