LAHORE, May 20: District Nazim Mian Amer said on Friday that the city district government had not allowed a mixed marathon proposed by human rights activists as it was a political activity. Answering questions in respect of refusal to Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairperson Asma Jehangir and other activists for organizing a marathon, the nazim said the CDGL was not opposed to the marathon as a sport. He said the city government had itself sponsored one such marathon in the recent past which was also participated in even by burqa-clad women.

He was, however, opposed to the marathons organized at Gujranwala and Sargodha because these were not sports events. He said the rights activists should not spoil the good atmosphere of the city by starting controversies like the marathon.

The nazim said the MMA leadership had been allowed to organize its meeting because the permission was sought for it as a political activity. The Minar-i-Pakistan had been declared a venue for all political activities, and the rights activists’ request for their political activity in support of peace there could be considered, he said.

He said the Gulberg’s Main Boulevard stretch between Kalma Chowk and Liberty Market was not a right place for a marathon.