PTI holds major rally on Islamabad’s outskirts

A major PTI rally has commenced on the outskirts of Islamabad on Sunday, with workers from across the province gathering at the venue for the event, the party announced on the X platform.The rally, initially scheduled for July and later August, was postponed twice after authorities revoked permission, citing security risks and fears of unrest.The party is staging the rally today to gain support for the release of the party’s founder Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since last August. Imran was expected to be released from prison after a district and sessions court accepted appeals against his conviction in the Iddat case. However, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested him in a new Toshakhana case shortly afterward.His sentences in the previous two Toshakhana cases were already suspended while he was acquitted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the cipher case, too.“A large convoy under the leadership of former speaker and MPA Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani is heading towards Islamabad Jalsa,” the party wrote on X. For the past several months, the PTI had been trying to get approval for a public meeting in the capital but it was not allowed by the administration.The party approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for permission in March after receiving no response from the district administration.In July, the PTI announced a protest but it was postponed as district administration did not allow the party to hold the protest. The meeting was rescheduled for August 22 but district administration cancelled the NOC at the eleventh hour, giving a new date of Sept 8.Police block Islamabad’s entry points ahead of rallyAs the party finalised its preparations for the rally today, the capital police blocked almost all entry points of the city amid intelligence reports of a ‘medium-level’ terrorism threat in light of the political gathering.The 21 points blocked with containers are Nicholson’s Monument, New Margalla Road turn on G.T Road, Sangjani Toll Plaza, Water Tanki on Margalla Road, New Margalla Road Loop opposite F-10/2, 26 Number Chongi, Zero Point, Faisal Chowk, Khayban Chowk, Rawat T-Cross, Khanna Bridge, Tramri Chowk, Shahpur Road Turn, U-Turn on Murree Road, Bridge on Murree Road near Traffic Office, Faizabad, 9th Avenue, Gandum Godown, Golra Mor Haji Camp, Motorway Old Toll Plaza, and Tarnol Phattak, they added. All the roads leading to the ‘red zone’ except for the Margalla Road are also blocked.Party’s Punjab spokesperson Shaukat Basra said in a post on X that the Punjab police hierarchy had issued “unconstitutional” orders to its formations across the province (to stop workers).Speaking to Dawn, Basra said the party leadership had changed its strategy in the wake of the police movement and asked its workers across the province to reach Islamabad individually. “Workers have been asked to avoid police action and reach Islamabad individually,” Mr Basra said.The district administration earlier this week issued a no-objection certificate to the public gathering on the outskirts of Islamabad, with a condition that the permission can be cancelled at any time in case of a “security situation”.The venue is a 350-kanal compound located on Paswal Road near Sangjani and is reportedly under the control of the military establishment.The selection of the venue has also energised the PTI workers as they believe that the ice has started to melt between the PTI and the powers that be.More to follow

A major PTI rally has commenced on the outskirts of Islamabad on Sunday, with workers from across the province gathering at the venue for the event, the party announced on the X platform. The rally, initially scheduled for July and later August, was postponed twice after authorities revoked permission, citing security risks and fears of unrest. The party is staging the rally today to gain support for the release of the party’s founder Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since last August.

Imran was expected to be released from prison after a district and sessions court accepted appeals against his conviction in the Iddat case . However, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested him in a new Toshakhana case shortly afterward. His sentences in the previous two Toshakhana cases were already suspended while he was acquitted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the cipher case, too.

“A large convoy under the leadership of former speaker and MPA Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani is heading towards Islamabad Jalsa,” the party wrote on X. For the past several months, the PTI had been trying to get approval for a public meeting in the capital but it was not allowed by the administration. The party approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for permission in March after receiving no response from the district administration.

In July, the PTI announced a protest but it was postponed as district administration did not allow the party to hold the protest. The meeting was rescheduled for August 22 but district administration cancelled the NOC at the eleventh hour, giving a new date of Sept 8. As the party finalised its preparations for the rally today, the capital police blocked almost all entry points of the city amid intelligence reports of a ‘medium-level’ terrorism threat in light of the political gathering.

The 21 points blocked with containers are Nicholson’s Monument, New Margalla Road turn on G.T Road, Sangjani Toll Plaza, Water Tanki on Margalla Road, New Margalla Road Loop opposite F-10/2, 26 Number Chongi, Zero Point, Faisal Chowk, Khayban Chowk, Rawat T-Cross, Khanna Bridge, Tramri Chowk, Shahpur Road Turn, U-Turn on Murree Road, Bridge on Murree Road near Traffic Office, Faizabad, 9th Avenue, Gandum Godown, Golra Mor Haji Camp, Motorway Old Toll Plaza, and Tarnol Phattak, they added. All the roads leading to the ‘red zone’ except for the Margalla Road are also blocked.

Party’s Punjab spokesperson Shaukat Basra said in a post on X that the Punjab police hierarchy had issued “unconstitutional” orders to its formations across the province (to stop workers). Speaking to Dawn , Basra said the party leadership had changed its strategy in the wake of the police movement and asked its workers across the province to reach Islamabad individually. “Workers have been asked to avoid police action and reach Islamabad individually,” Mr Basra said.

The district administration earlier this week issued a no-objection certificate to the public gathering on the outskirts of Islamabad, with a condition that the permission can be cancelled at any time in case of a “security situation”. The venue is a 350-kanal compound located on Paswal Road near Sangjani and is reportedly under the control of the military establishment. The selection of the venue has also energised the PTI workers as they believe that the ice has started to melt between the PTI and the powers that be.

More to follow.