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RAWALPINDI, Aug 12: The district administration has banned all independence day rallies planned by political parties in view of threats of terrorism, sources said here on Monday.
The political parties, which are planning to use the occasion for starting their electioneering campaign and show of strength, have vowed to defy the ban.
The sources said the gathering would be held and if the administration insisted on implementing its ban these (gatherings) would be held indoors.
All major parties in Rawalpindi had planned rallies and had done a lot of spadework for their success since all of them took the occasion as a major test to prove their popularity.
The Pakistan Peoples Party was planning to hold a rally at Rabia Manzil, PML(N) in Nia Mohalla Chowk, former minister Sheikh Rashid at Lal Haveli and Jamaat-i-Islami alongwith its Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal allies at Fawara Chowk.
“All these gatherings had been planned within a radius of a couple of kilometres and we decided to ban them as there were fears that some anti-social elements may use the occasion for subversive activities,” District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiani said.
The district is still reeling from two terrorist attacks; one in Murree Mission High School that left six dead and the other at the Taxila chapel in which five were killed.
“The threat from the terrorists is huge and could not be more current,” a police source said, and added that there would be intense deployment in the city to avert any untoward incident.
Local PPP spokesman Nasir Mir said: “We have discussed the ban with our leadership and have decided to go ahead with our preparations for the rally.
“The party’s local leadership has reaffirmed its resolve not to entertain any administration pressure in this connection.”
PML(N) leader Babar Awan said his party too would hold the independence day gathering at Nia Mohalla Chowk according to plan and would follow it up with massive fireworks show.
Another PML(N) leader and former minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said he had not been intimated about the ban and would also hold the gathering at Lal Haveli.
He said the district Nazim had only told him that he was seeking policy from the provincial government and since then there had not been any word from the Nazim in this connection.
“These people are out to create unnecessary problems for us,” he added.
Our Reporter from Islamabad adds: The Capital Development Authority has finalized the arrangements for the flag-hoisting ceremony to be held at Convention centre on August 14.
The venue of the ceremony has been changed from Jinnah Avenue (in front of the parliament house) to the convention centre.
General public will not be allowed to attend the function. Only ministers and their secretaries have been invited, a source from the CDA told Dawn on Monday. The ceremony will start at 8am with the national anthem.
The venue of the ceremony was changed due to security reasons as well as forecast of rain. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had forecast heavy rains on the morning of August 14.
The venue for independence day ceremony had been changed for the second time. Earlier the ceremony used to be held at Race Course Ground, Rawalpindi.
Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto changed the venue from Race Course ground to Jinnah Avenue Islamabad. Now, it has been changed from Jinnah Avenue to the convention centre.
“The CDA decorated roads and important buildings with colourful flags and banners and has also illuminated important buildings in Islamabad,” and erected 3,500 flags and 50 huge banners throughout the capital.
The CDA is arranging a badminton tournament at Iqbal Hall in connection with the independence day. In another ceremony at a local hotel winner and runner up teams of Chairman CDA Cricket Tournament will be given prizes.
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) will present a special independence day programme on August 14 at 4:05pm ‘Aghaz- i-Safar’ featuring the first broadcast and announcement of the creation of Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the original voices of Mr Zahoor Azar and Mr Mustafa Ali Hamdani, broadcast between August 13 and 14, 1947.
Lok Virsa and Pakistan National Council of the Arts and others will present their own programmes.
Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has beefed up security in the capital and deployed police commandos at all sensitive places like mosques, Imambargahs, churches, commercial centres and other public places to avoid any untoward incident on Independence day.
A meeting of senior ICT officials was held on Monday to review the security measures to avoid any terrorism act in the capital.
Police commandos equipped with sophisticated weapons and wireless sets would be deployed at all sensitive places.
Plain clothes police personnel have been deployed with sniffer dogs to avert criminal and terrorism activities in commercial areas.
The district administration has imposed section 144 against wall chalking, display and firing of arms, literature, etc.
An ICT official said security has been tightened at the airport, exit points and entrance, bus stands and other public places and personnel of different law enforcement agencies have been deployed to keep vigilance.
APP ADDS: The two cities are giving a festive look with the sale of national flags, colourful buntings, stickers and posters of national heroes in various markets of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Stalls have been set up in thickly populated localities and on busy roads and even in streets selling colourful items related to the day right at the doorstep of the people.
The main bazaars and shopping centres and residences and roads are being decorated with national flags and colourful buntings.
A number of social, cultural, educational and non-governmental organizations have made elaborate plans to celebrate the day.
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) tourist centre will remain open on independence Day for disseminating information and literature to the general public.
The PTDC motels and hotels will be decorated with flags and buntings and illuminated.
A photographic exhibition on mountain heritage of Pakistan by professional photographers will be opened for school and college students at Flashman’s hotel.
The celebrations will begin with 31-gun salute at the capital/Rawalpindi and 21-gun salute at all the provincial headquarters.
Special prayers will be offered in all the mosques for the solidarity and prosperity of Pakistan.
Rail, road and sea traffic will come to a stand-still for one minute at 7:58am with the sounding of sirens.
National flag hoisting ceremonies will also be held in the provincial capitals where the governors of the four provinces will hoist the national flag in their respective headquarters.
The ceremonies will also be held at the Pakistani missions abroad.
