ISLAMABAD: The government gave the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) a conditional go-ahead for a May 11 rally to protest against alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a press conference on Thursday that written permission for the rally had been given, despite reservations from certain quarters. But, he added, the government had laid down certain conditions.
He said no ‘container-politics’ would be permitted and that containers would only be placed by the administration for security purposes. Only two other containers — one meant to be used as the dais for PTI chief Imran Khan and the other for journalists — would be allowed in the area.
He said nobody would be allowed to carry firearms, fireworks or any items that could be used as a weapon, such as sticks or batons. He said any vehicle found carrying such prohibited items would not be allowed to join the protest.
He said that women would not be allowed to bring their infants along, as that would be unfair to the children. Moreover, he said nobody would be allowed to use children as human shields. “If any vehicle has an infant onboard, it will be stopped,” he said.
Nisar also said the government wanted separate enclosures for women as far as possible.
Throughout the press conference, Nisar’s tone indicated that the government expected Imran Khan to play by democratic rules. But he sounded concerned about the intentions of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri.
He said nobody would be allowed to enter the Red Zone, adding that “visible and invisible security will guarantee this. If any vested interest or pressure groups think they can disturb the peace under the guise of the rally, they are mistaken. I assure you this will not be allowed,” he remarked.
He said that no vehicles will be allowed past the Kulsoom Plaza in Blue Area and the stage will be placed at Express Chowk, a few hundred yards from D-Chowk itself. The PTI has agreed to this, he said.
He said it had become a tradition to hold rallies and sit-ins around sensitive areas in the capital where important government buildings are located. This is a bad tradition. We will allocate a separate space in Islamabad for future rallies, some place where the security of the city is not threatened,” he said.
A mere 100 to 200 people can create havoc for the state by blocking sensitive locations such as the Red Zone. “Can any state compromise on the security of its institutions and key buildings,” he asked.
When asked about the government’s strategy if the sit-in was extended indefinitely, Nisar said the government was prepared for anything.
Nisar said the people of the twin cities would be inconvenienced by the rally for about 36 hours, but did not specify when those 36 hours would begin. He also said mobile phone services would not be suspended on May 11.
Talking about the PTI’s grievances, he said they had to do with election tribunals, Election Commission of Pakistan and the superior judiciary, but nothing directly linked to the government.
He said that this would be the first time that container owners would be paid for the use of their property.
He also did not take any questions about the attack on security forces in a Taliban stronghold, nor did he talk about the future of the peace process with the Taliban.
