ISLAMABAD: After shadowing and harassing Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf workers, the capital police have started issuing threats to PTI leaders to pre-empt their Azadi March planned for August 14, the party said on Sunday.

“I received a call this morning from the Special Branch (of police) asking me to shift my family from my house by 5pm for I could be put under house arrest anytime,” Shireen Mazari, senior leader and information secretary of the PTI, told a press conference here.

She said someone introducing himself as Saqlain Bajwa delivered the threat to her.

“How can I push out my family from my house, and why should I,” she asked, adding, “I am not the only one who received the call. Naeemul Haq, staff officer to PTI Chief Imran Khan, also received a similar call.”

Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ali Nekokara had denied to Dawn on Saturday that the police had been visiting the homes of PTI activists and menacingly demanding information about the party workers mobilising support for the march.

But SSP Nekokara meaningfully added that the police had “only been collecting contact numbers” of the party workers, in accordance

with the Standard Operating Procedure, for conveying them government’s messages in case of an emergency.

In reply to a question, Ms Mazari said the PTI has decided not to seek permission from the Ministry of Interior or the District Administration for holding its Azadi March.

“We know about the threats to Imran Khan but he has never tried to hide behind bulletproof shields. There will be same security for workers and leaders,” she said.

LG system and Tenancy Law

PTI MNA from Islamabad Asad Umar, sitting by her side at the same press conference, said the PML-N government was not serious in resolving the problems and issues of the federal capital.

“The Tenancy Law is not being introduced in the federal capital. As far as the local government system (LGS) is concerned, the draft law shows that there will be no role for the residents of Islamabad in the governance,” he said.

Local leader of PTI Shahzad Wasim said that Article 37(1) of the Constitution says there should be decentralisation of powers in the country but the government was not willing to introduce true LGS in Islamabad.

“Even if the LGS is introduced in Islamabad, a retired bureaucrat will take most of the decisions,” he said.

Published in Dawn, Aug 4th, 2014