ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) on Wednesday sought permission for its Azadi march to D-Chowk and requested for security arrangements for it.

In this regard, an application was submitted to the chief commissioner office by Kamran Murtaza, the counsel for JUI leader Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari.

The application stated that the JUI-F would hold a rally at D-Chowk against the government as its democratic and constitutional right under Articles 16 and 17 of the Constitution.

The rally will be led by JUI-F emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman, it added. The JUI also sought security arrangements for the participants of the rally.

When contacted, Mr Murtaza told Dawn that the application was lying in the office of the deputy commissioner and a decision over it was pending.

The district administration will approach the organisers to find reasons behind holding the rally, official says

An official of the capital administration on conduction of anonymity added that the chief commissioner office had forwarded the application to the DC office as it was the competent authority to grant or refuse permission. The interior ministry has been approached for guidelines and a decision on the application, he added.

However, the applicant will be approached soon and asked to submit details about the participants, including their numbers, and the destination and route of the march.

The details of the timeframe regarding arrival of the rally in the capital and its departure will also be sought from the applicant, the official said. Besides, the organisers would be asked to convince the district administration about the reasons for holding the march.

Surety will also be sought from the organisers and the applicant not to enter the Red Zone, create hurdles for the residents of the city and any law and order situation. The application will be considered only after the district administration is satisfied with replies of the organisers.

“Our top priority is protection of the Diplomatic Enclave and foreign, government and sensitive installations in the capital,” he said.

Moreover, the capital police cancelled leaves of its officers and officials due to the expected rally of the JUI-F.

An order in this regard was issued from the office of the police chief after which all those who were on leave were asked to report back on duty.

Till further orders, emergency leaves will be granted to gazetted officers of all divisions through the office of the AIG establishment and after approval of the police chief, said officials.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ijaz Shah while talking to reports on Wednesday said recruitment was being made in the police department after a gap of around a decade. He said 1,260 officials would be inducted in the capital police.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2019