ISLAMABAD: The capital administration and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) have not yet agreed on the venue of the party’s November 30 public meeting in the city.

Besides, the city administration is yet to grant permission for the public gathering as the PTI has not applied for it.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tahir Alam Khan along with Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil and other officials on Friday visited D-Chowk and were briefed on the security arrangements there.

Rizwan Chaudhry, the media coordinator for the PTI, told Dawn that party’s vice-president retired Col Younus Ali Raza on Thursday wrote to the capital administration seeking security arrangements for the public gathering. In response, the deputy commissioner office approached MNA Asad Omar and asked him about the venue and timing of the public gathering.

Mr Omar informed the official that a delegation of the PTI would meet him to answer his queries on Friday. But the proposed meeting could not be held on Friday.

Organisers reject Kashmir Highway and F-9 Park, insist on D-Chowk

The deputy commissioner during his visit to D-Chowk met the organisers of the public gathering, including Ali Nawaz Awan, retired Capt Hasan Bilal and Fareed Rehman. The DC offered them the Kashmir Highway or F-9 Park for the public gathering but the organisers refused and insisted that the public gathering would be held at D-Chowk.

On the other hand, in response to the chief commissioner office’s query over the need of the army in the capital city, the police said the armed forces should remain in the city till November 30.

Earlier, the commissioner office had asked the Central Police Office Islamabad to assess the need for keeping the army in the city as the local administration had to spend a huge amount on meeting their requirements, including fuel and meals.

Meanwhile, police officials said policemen deployed at the pickets in and around the Red Zone had been directed to intercept the PTI workers making arrangements for the public meeting.

“Vehicles carrying tents and other related items are strictly banned in the Red Zone,” they said. Vehicles transporting cans filled with fuel or water were also being denied entry into the high security area.

Gas cylinders, firewood and heaters are also not allowed in the Red Zone. “Even policemen deployed at the checkpoints have been asked not to use heaters or coal stoves and firewood till November 30.”

The personnel were also asked to note down the registration numbers of vehicles which transported the banned items into the Red Zone so action could be taken against them later.

The officials said the capital police had requested the Sindh police to send water cannon vehicles available with the Karachi police to Islamabad. “These are computerised water cannon vehicles especially designed to disperse protesters and mobs,” they added.

Published in Dawn, November 22th , 2014