ISLAMABAD: Security and traffic arrangements were made for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) public meeting on Friday after organisers of the event were given a no-objection certificate (NOC) for holding the gathering. PTI leaders on Thursday made plans for how to bring people from their respective constituencies to Parade Ground for the gathering.

According to police officials, 2400 police and Rangers personnel will be deployed around Parade Ground and its surrounding areas.

The officials said that Superintendent of Police City Zubair Sheikh, who is supervising the arrangements, visited the venue, which will be searched in the morning and the bomb disposal squad will scan the area before noon as well.

Riot police and police reserves will be put on standby for quick response if needed.

Commuters will be given updates on the traffic situation on ITPs FM Radio 92.4 throughout the day. A parking plan has also been made for those attending the gathering.

Those coming from Peshawar will take a left turn from the Kashmir Highway, Zero Point to get to the parking lot on Parade Ground while those coming from Lahore will use the Expressway from Faizabad and take a back turn from Garden Flyover.

Weapons of any kind will not be taken in or near the venue and the organisers will be responsible for security inside.

Organisers will also be responsible for any human injuries inside the venue and streamers and banners will only be installed after they have been approved by the Capital Development Authority and those containing public messages shall not be removed or obstructed.

Participants shall not enter any restricted area or obstruct public or private thoroughfares and the organisers will be responsible for damage or destruction to public and private property.

Meanwhile, PTI leaders made plans for how to bring people to Parade Ground. The party has hired 1,000 cars and 1,000 motorcycles for transporting workers.

Local leaders of the party have booked cars for their workers as well and the party has asked leasers to bring at least one car and a motorcycle to the rally.

A senior party leader told Dawn party leaders were asked to participate and a monitoring team will count the number of people in their respective rallies.

PTI Punjab North’s former general secretary Zahid Kazmi said the main rally will come from Charring Cross on Peshawar Road which will join the rally from Chaklala Cantonment on Marrir Chowk and will use Murree Road to get to Parade Ground.

Imran Khan has directed party leaders to ensure women are safe as PML-N goons will try to create problems.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2017