PESHAWAR, Nov 11: The district government here has decided to confine holding of public gatherings and processions to Shahi Bagh to avoid inconvenience to general public, especially traders.

The administration has decided that no one will be allowed to hold public meetings or take out processions in any bazaar or locality within the district or cantonment area except the place reserved in Shahi Bagh, named “Jalsa Gah”.

Peshawar District Nazim Azam Khan Afridi visited Shahi Bagh on Sunday with the authorities concerned and declared the site suitable for holding public meetings.

He said the decision had been taken in the larger interest of people, including traders, industrialists and daily wage earners, who were suffering due to public gatherings and processions at in the city.

He said the people and trader community had been presenting the demand for reservation of a place for such gatherings.

Mr Afridi said the Nazims of four towns of Peshawar and 92 union councils would make arrangements for display of notices and invitations about public meetings, containing name of organisation or party, time and other details.

He directed the authorities to make arrangements for provision of facilities, including a press enclosure, car parking, drinking water and suitable arrangements of lighting at the Bagh.

There will be no imposition of section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the Jalsa Gah and every one would be allowed to hold public meetings there, he said.

The Nazim directed the authorities submit a plan about the stage and other facilities in two days.