ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Friday dodged the capital administration and police by reaching Tramri Chowk to attend a corner meeting despite several blockades put on the road.

Heavy contingents of police along with the anti-riot units were deployed at several places in the area.

Officials of the capital administration and police told Dawn that initially it was decided that Imran Khan would be intercepted and not allowed to reach the venue. In this regard, deployments were made at the KP House, Constitution Avenue, Rawal Dam Chowk and Park Road, a few kilometres from the venue of the meeting at Tramri Chowk.

Assistant Commissioner Kamran Cheema and Superintendent of Police Ahmed Iqbal met Mr Khan at the KP House and advised him not to attend the meeting as it would be a violation of the election code of conduct.

An official, who was present at the meeting, said Imran told the officials, “Your efforts to stop me may succeed but what about PML-N’s Tariq Fazal Chaudhry who is attending rallies and corner meetings.”

The PTI chief added: “The prime minister is announcing development packages during the election campaign, ministers are also addressing public gatherings, local MNA also do the same, the code of conduct only for me.”

The official said, “Mr Khan’s reply of left us speechless,” adding: “But we informed Mr Khan about the possible outcome of him attending the rally, including registration of a case against him and filing of a reference with the Election Commission of Pakistan for the violation of the code of conduct.”

Later, Mr Khan left for Banigala but his motorcade moved towards Tramri Chowk instead of going to his residence.

When the police and capital administration officers got the information, they thought it would not be possible for the PTI chief to reach the venue by traversing villages but Imran’s motorcade used different routes through villages via Pholgran and Bahria Enclave and reached the venue.

Three cases were registered in the police stations of Golra, Kohsar and Secretariat against the PTI supporters and activists for taking out rallies in violation of Section 144.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015