PTI receives permission to hold power show in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The district administration has authorized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold a power show in Islamabad on August 22.

The state counsel informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) about approving the public gathering in the federal capital. This decision follows a contempt plea against suspending the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for PTI’s event.

The plea, submitted by Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aein Coordinator Khanzaada Hussain, challenged the NOC suspension for the Tarnol Jalsa and requested contempt proceedings against officials for canceling the NOC despite a court order.

The petition highlighted that the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad had previously informed the court on July 4 that an NOC had been issued to PTI. However, PTI leader Amir Mughal was arrested by police outside the DC Office while taking officials to the event site.

The cancellation of the NOC was later revealed through a tweet by the Islamabad Police, and the Deputy Commissioner subsequently sent a letter to the petitioner confirming the cancellation.

Earlier, the Islamabad Chief Commissioner revoked the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for PTI’s public gathering just a day before the event. This decision was made during a meeting chaired by the Chief Commissioner, where security agencies raised concerns about potential risks related to the rally.

The district administration had previously granted PTI permission to hold a public gathering on July 6 near Tarnol Chowk. Following the issuance of the NOC, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) resolved an application regarding the NOC for the meeting. Justice Babar Sattar of the IHC had heard the petition seeking approval for PTI’s event in the federal capital.