ISLAMABAD: The capital administration on Monday said it had not yet received any application from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf for holding a procession on October 4 in Islamabad, an official of the administration told Dawn.

“The question of denying or allowing the PTI to hold procession does not arise until the party submits a request in this regard,” said a senior officer of the administration on condition of anonymity.

“So far the capital administration has neither denied nor allowed the PTI to hold a procession at D-Chowk on October 4 as it (PTI) has not sought permission as yet,” he added.

However, the local administration has informed the PTI that gathering of any kind is not allowed at Red Zone due to the prevailing security situation, he said, adding the administration is ready to allow the PTI to hold its public meeting elsewhere in the city, but for it, too, it has to seek permission from the district administration.

The official said the PTI chief coordinator retired Col Yunus Ali Raza in a letter to the deputy commissioner, Islamabad, had only informed the administration that the PTI was holding a rally at D-Chowk, Islamabad on October 4.

In the letter he informed the DC that in the procession the PTI chairman, Imran Khan, would be the chief guest, the official said.

The PTI official also informed the administration that a large number of senior party leadership were likely to address the rally.

The letter sought necessary security cover and allied facilities for the rally, the official added.

In response to the letter, DC retired Capt Mushtaq Ahmad intimated to the party that due to precarious security environment, all public gatherings and rallies were banned in Islamabad for which Section 144 of CrPC had already been imposed in the city, the official added.

“No political gathering of any kind is allowed in Red Zone,” the official quoted from the letter of the DC to the PTI chief coordinator.

Staging rally elsewhere in Islamabad also requires NOC (no objection certificate) from the capital administration after submission of an affidavit, the letter quoted by the official, adding that “therefore, any public event necessitates prior coordination and permission for necessary security arrangements and relaxation of CrPC section 144 if granted by the district magistrate.”

“Without prejudice to the capital administration’s decision regarding relaxation of CrPC section 144 presently invoked in the capital by the district magistrate, you are requested to direct your party to approach the administration and share the details of the proposed programme on the said date,” the letter said.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2015

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